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Dutch coasts in transition

Nature Geoscience volume 2, pages 450–452 (2009)Cite this article

The Netherlands has a long and varied history of coastal and river flood management. The anticipation of sea-level rise during the twenty-first century has renewed the push for sustainable solutions to coastal vulnerability.

The Netherlands is a densely populated country situated primarily in coastal lowlands. The Dutch coast, which is entirely along the North Sea, is 350 km long. At present, nine million residents of the Netherlands live in the coastal areas — vast regions at an elevation below sea level. Roughly 65% of the country's gross national product — about €400 billion — is generated in this region; the harbours and airports scattered throughout the lowlands are vital to the country's infrastructure and serve as important international transport routes for people and goods. Furthermore, the coastal lowlands host a number of the country's goods and services industries. Although this key region is protected by dykes and dunes along the coast, future sea-level rise could put it at risk.

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Figure 1: Flood safety standards of dykes in The Netherlands.

© 2009 VERKEER EN WATERSTAAT

Figure 2: 'Building with nature'.

© 2009 ROYAL BOSKALIS WESTMINSTER NV

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 47, Wageningen, 6700, AA, The Netherlands

    Pavel Kabat

  2. University of Amsterdam, PO Box 19268, Amsterdam, 1000, GG, The Netherlands

    Louise O. Fresco

  3. Delft Technical University, PO Box 5048, Delft, 2600, GA, The Netherlands

    Marcel J. F. Stive

  4. Bracamonte BV, Postweg 11, Groesbeek, 6561, KJ, The Netherlands

    Cees P. Veerman

  5. Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, PO Box 17, Lelystad, 8200, AA, The Netherlands

    Jos S. L. J. van Alphen

  6. Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, PO Box 20904, Den Haag, 2500, EX, The Netherlands

    Bart W. A. H. Parmet

  7. Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), PO Box 201, De Bilt, 3730, AE, The Netherlands

    Wilco Hazeleger & Caroline A. Katsman

Authors
  1. Pavel Kabat
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  2. Louise O. Fresco
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  3. Marcel J. F. Stive
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  4. Cees P. Veerman
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  5. Jos S. L. J. van Alphen
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  6. Bart W. A. H. Parmet
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  7. Wilco Hazeleger
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  8. Caroline A. Katsman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pavel Kabat.

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Kabat, P., Fresco, L., Stive, M. et al. Dutch coasts in transition. Nature Geosci 2, 450–452 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo572

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