Water resilience and national security

How do we protect the backbone of the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is one of the best-protected deltas in the world. Our dykes, storm surge defences, locks and pumping stations form the backbone of our safety and economy. But the world is changing.
The war in Ukraine shows that critical infrastructure is increasingly being targeted by sabotage, cyber-attacks and drone attacks. The Netherlands, too, cannot escape this trend.
The AD recently reported on an investigation report which allegedly shows that the Dutch air defence system fell seriously short during a Russian drone operation over Volkel Air Base. The reporting makes it clear that the protection of critical infrastructure can no longer be taken for granted.
This raises an urgent question:

How do we protect our water infrastructure against these new threats?

What role do the Ministry of Defence, Rijkswaterstaat, the water authorities, research institutions and the private sector play? And what lessons can we learn from current geopolitical developments?
During this event, water professionals, defence specialists and interested parties will discuss these issues.

Programme

Opening
Water resilience and national security
Derk Boswijk, State Secretary for Defence
A vision on the powers and responsibilities of national security in a time of increasing geopolitical tensions.

Critical Water Infrastructure Under Pressure
Dr Alexander Schmets, Assistant Professor, Netherlands Defence Academy
Dr Schmets, together with several guests, will give a lecture on the protection of the Netherlandsā€™ water infrastructure:

  • Protecting pumping stations, locks, storm surge barriers and other vital waterworks against sabotage and drone attacks.
  • Explosion tests on dykes and research into breach initiation.
  • Water as a strategic line of defence: from the Dutch Water Line to contemporary applications and international cooperation, including with Estonia and Latvia.
  • Lessons from the war in Ukraine for the protection of the Dutch water infrastructure.

Closing remarks and networking drinks

You are warmly invited
The protection of our water infrastructure is more relevant than ever. During this meeting, we will explore together the implications of the changing geopolitical situation for water management in the Netherlands and the role that governments, research institutions and operators can play in this regard.
The KIVI specialist groups warmly invite members, board members, water professionals, defence specialists and other interested parties to contribute their ideas and engage in discussion on this topic.

Registration will open at the end of August via the KIVI website. Free for members; ā‚¬75 for non-members. Places are limited.

Image: Martijn Beekman