Post‑flood recovery in Europe requires better preparation
Flooding caused by extreme and prolonged rainfall is occurring more frequently across Europe. The way countries recover afterwards varies widely. These differences offer valuable lessons. That is why, under the umbrella of the JCAR ATRACE programme, policymakers, experts and practitioners from several European countries will gather from 14 to 16 April for a workshop to exchange experiences.
Recovery: far from straightforward
Internationally, recovery is recognised as a crucial phase of flood risk management, alongside prevention, preparedness and emergency response. The European Union also emphasises its importance. In practice, large‑scale recovery is anything but simple. The floods of July 2021 in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as more recent events in 2024 in, among other places, Valencia and Hauts-de-France, have made clear the magnitude of the technical, legal, administrative and societal challenges following a flood. Challenges with governance, financing and prospects for residents and entrepreneurs play a central role.
Ferdinand Diermanse, flood risk expert at Deltares: “By comparing experiences from different countries, we gain insights that can be applied immediately. We translate these into recommendations that European regions can actually put into practice.”
Rapid recovery or structural improvement?
A recurring dilemma is the tension between rapid recovery and structural improvement. The desire to return to the pre‑flood situation as quickly as possible is strong, but there is growing recognition that simply rebuilding as it was is not always the best option. “Build back better”, rebuilding stronger and smarter, requires different choices, while insurance schemes, regulations and building codes are not yet always aligned with this approach.
By comparing experiences from different countries, we gain insights that can be applied immediately.
Ferdinand Diermanse, flood risk expert at Deltares
From practice to policy
During the workshop, that takes place in Verviers and Bad Neuenahr, participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain will share their experiences. Comparing these experiences highlights where recovery processes become stuck, as well as what works well. The outcome will be a set of recommendations to support European countries in:
- organising recovery more quickly and efficiently,
- making better long‑term choices,
- and increasing resilience.
About the workshop
The three‑day workshop is organised by Deltares, RWTH Aachen, VU Amsterdam and Liège University and consists of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and field visits. The event will be opened by high‑level administrative representatives from several European countries, including Anne‑Catherine Dalcq, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Areas of Wallonia (Belgium); Erwin Manz, State Secretary at the Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility of Rhineland‑Palatinate (Germany); Jaap Slootmaker, Director‑General for Water and Soil at the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management; and Tom Koeller, Deputy Secretary‑General of the Benelux Union.
Participants will also visit the areas severely affected in 2021 in the Vesdre Valley (Belgium) and the Ahr Valley (Germany). The workshop will conclude with the joint formulation of recommendations. These will be captured after the workshop in a short policy brief, followed by a meeting in Brussels to engage a broader group of European policymakers.
For more information about the workshop and to see the full programme, visit click here.
About JCAR ATRACE
JCAR ATRACE is a collaborative research programme focused on flood and drought management in regional river basins in Europe. The programme aims to support regional authorities in improving their preparedness for extreme climate events. It is coordinated by Deltares, and is in cooperation with several research institutes from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg: RWTH Aachen University, VU Amsterdam, University of Twente, TU Delft, GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, University of Liège, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, and KU Leuven.
