In the 1990s Deltares explored in a strategic research project, whether and how the Netherlands could accommodate a 30% increase in flood discharges in the Rhine River (The Rhine on the Long-term). We concluded that rivers would need more room and that careful planning can avoid losing land to the river by combining the discharge function with flood proof land-use functions.

In the 1990s the Netherlands adopted the policy “Room for Rivers” to achieve the required safety level for the river systems.