News

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.

2026 is an important year for water. As World Water Week takes place in Stockholm, and with the 2026 UN Water Conference on the horizon, action has never been more urgent. In the run-up to both events, Deltares experts are calling for the implementation gap to be closed, and a move from ambition to action with concrete and sustainable results. This is key to delivering water security and resilience for all.

It’s raining again and it’s not as hot, so less water is evaporating. But does this mean the drought is now over and can we return to ‘normal’? Unfortunately not; we are currently some 300 mm short of the required rainfall, so the 70 mm of rain expected on average over the next two weeks is not enough. What will happen in the coming period to the Rhine and Meuse, and to the groundwater beneath our feet?

Marcel van Gent has been appointed Professor of storm surge barriers at the Delft University of Technology. Marcel combines this new position with his current roles as Professor of coastal structures at the Delft University of Technology, senior expert at Deltares, and editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Coastal Engineering (Elsevier).

In this Impact Report 2025, we show how knowledge, research and collaboration contribute to solutions for societal challenges in the fields of water and the subsurface. In doing so, we make visible how our work contributes, step by step, to our mission Enabling Delta Life.

Floods are often seen as unpredictable events. New research by Wageningen University & Research, Deltares and international knowledge organisations shows that, in many areas, coastal flooding actually occurs with striking regularity at fixed times of the day. Due to the influence of the tides, flooding in some cities consistently occurs around the morning rush hour, during office hours or, conversely, in the middle of the night.