News

The flow of the Rhine is currently at an all-time low of around 540 m³/s, and this is not expected to change significantly over the next two weeks. This has significant consequences for waterborne transport, the natural environment and, due to salinisation, also for groundwater and agriculture. In this article, we will focus on the consequences for waterborne transport.

Deltares has published the Activity Plan mission-driven research 2027 in draft. It outlines the main lines of the strategic research that Deltares will carry out in 2027.

How effective are emergency measures for dykes when high waves occur during extreme weather conditions? Deltares and various water authorities are investigating this this week in the Deltares Delta Flume in Delft.

For investments in flood risk management we mostly look at costs and benefits during the life cycle of a measure. But what happens beyond that? New research by Deltares and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam shows that those longer horizons and consequences for future generations can considerably change the outcomes.

Heavy rainfall can lead to sudden spikes in bacterial pollution in bathing waters due to overflows from combined sewer systems (CSOs). Researchers at Deltares, together with colleagues from KWR, have developed a new model that tracks the spread of bacteria such as E. coli from the sewer system to coastal waters. This enables water authorities to better predict pollution risks and take timely measures to protect public health.

Deltares and Wageningen Marine Research are starting a multi-year study into the effects of floating solar farms on the North Sea ecosystem. The Offshore Solar Ecological Programme (ZoZEP), an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, will clarify the conditions under which offshore solar energy can be developed responsibly.

The drought of 2026 is not yet over, and some of its effects are already visible. There are economic consequences for agriculture, transport and industry. But there are also consequences that are less visible and may have long-term effects. These include the extinction of species in dried-up streams and ponds, land subsidence leading to damage to building foundations and increased CO₂ emissions, and damage to dykes. How well do we understand these consequences? And what does this mean for freshwater policy?

Climate change is increasing foundation risks in the Netherlands. Drought, falling groundwater levels and land subsidence mean that more and more buildings are at risk of damage, including in areas where foundation problems were previously uncommon.

Water availability in our European rivers, such as the Rhine, is coming under increasing pressure as a result of climate change. Over a four-year period, the EU project STARS4Water saw knowledge shared from seven European river basins. The aim: to examine the effects of the changing climate on nature, society and the economy. Deltares coordinated this research and is organising the concluding conference in Delft.

Coastal engineer Dano Roelvink has been included on the new KNMI storm names list for the 2026-2027 season. His name now sits among the storms he spent forty years studying: how they form, how waves and sandy coasts respond, and how that knowledge can help protect coastal areas more effectively.

What happens when major roads become flooded during prolonged periods of extreme rainfall? Can power installations, hospitals, and other critical facilities still be reached? A new story map in the Dutch Climate Impact Atlas (Klimaateffectatlas) shows how disruptions to the road network can affect other vital services. The story map was developed by Deltares in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) and Climate Adaptation Services (CAS).

‘What might the Dutch countryside look like in 2050?’ and ‘How could farming be successfully carried out there?’ These questions are central to the publication *Visions for the Future of Agriculture*. In it, the Office of the Chief Government Architect and Government Advisers (CRa) explores possible directions for the development of agriculture and the countryside. Deltares and Wageningen University & Research have contributed their expertise to the report.