Description

The standards of our flood defences determine the extent to which we keep our feet dry. The existing system of these standards is being overhauled. From now on, much more attention will be paid to the probability of a dike breaching and the damage caused by flooding. If the damage is extensive, a strict standard will apply; if it is minor, a less strict standard will suffice. Efficiency is also a virtue in water management.

What are the consequences of this new system, what does it mean for the quality of the defences, are the underlying choices clear, are the outcomes always equally logical, do they lead to a fair distribution of flood risks? That is the subject of the first debate organised by KIVI in cooperation with the Delta Commissioner in the run-up to the new Delta Programme to be presented on Prinsjesdag (the state opening of parliament).

The new approach to dike standards applies to our entire country; the concrete case highlighted in the debate is the Flevopolder. The dykes near Almere will have a higher standard than those near Lelystad. Can that be explained? This takes into account that the Knardijk, which divides the Flevopolder in two, will hold back the water in the event of a flood. How realistic is that? And what about the possibilities of evacuation, how do these weigh into the flood risk?
The standards of our flood defences determine to what extent we keep our feet dry. The existing system of these standards is being overhauled. From now on, much more attention will be paid to the probability of a dike breaching and the damage caused by the flood. If the damage is extensive, a strict standard will apply; if it is minor, a less strict standard will suffice. Efficiency is also a virtue in water management.

What are the consequences of this new system, what does it mean for the quality of the defences, are the underlying choices clear, are the outcomes always equally logical, do they lead to a fair distribution of flood risks? That is the subject of the first debate organised by KIVI in cooperation with the Delta Commissioner in the run-up to the new Delta Programme to be presented on Prinsjesdag (the state opening of parliament).

The new approach to dike standards applies to our entire country; the concrete case highlighted in the debate is the Flevopolder. The dykes near Almere will have a higher standard than those near Lelystad. Can that be explained? This takes into account that the Knardijk, which divides the Flevopolder in two, will hold back the water in the event of a flood. How realistic is that? And what about the possibilities of evacuation, how do these weigh into the flood risk?

Speaker(s)

* Bert Naarding, director sub-programme Safety of the Delta Programme
* Hetty Klavers, dike reeve Waterschap Zuiderzeeland
* Bas Jonkman, professor of Water Safety at TU Delft
* Bas Kolen, researcher of Water Safety, Crisis Management and Evacuation consultancy HKV Line in water
* Neelke Doorn, associate professor of Ethics and Governance, TU Delft

Location

Museum Nieuw Land

Oostvaardersdijk 113, Lelystad

Organiser

Construction and Hydraulic Engineering

Name and contact details for information

For more information, please contact Marsha Reubsaet

marshareubsaet@kivi.nl

More information about the Delta Debates

Directions and more information