Pioneering 2.0

Solidarity, determination and perseverance. For centuries, these have been the basic ingredients for water management in the Netherlands. After all, water management is never finished. What is good today is not good enough tomorrow. 

As Waterschap Zuiderzeeland, located at the bottom of the former Zuiderzee, we have a good starting position. Designed over a century ago, the water system is still doing what it is supposed to do. We also take good care of it; our pumping stations are in top condition thanks to good management and maintenance. Yet it was also hard work for us to cope with the weather extremes of 2023. Especially at the end of the year we had to pull out all the stops to keep the polders dry. Even our old diesel pumping station Wortman, normally a backup pumping station, was needed to keep the polders dry. The aftertaste of the past year is double. Our water system is fortunately still largely in order. At the same time, we realize that even such a cleverly designed water system has limits. After all, the weather extremes of the past year are dwarfed by those in the (near) future.

We will have to energetically build on our good starting position. We will also have to abandon the conviction that everything can be solved, with or without technology. This means that if we invest heavily in the water system and the dikes, we will still be reasonably able to deal with increasing weather extremes. But let's be clear: despite all the investments, the functioning of the water system is declining. This combination means more storms, more high water and thus more flooding in both urban and rural areas. And in periods of drought, not only water scarcity, but also water of lower quality. Water will become a more intrusive part of our living environment and more decisive for the livability of our country. Water needs more space and we need to take that into account now.

It is therefore necessary that we allow water and soil to guide spatial development and design in the spatial choices we make NOW. After all, we also want a safe and habitable habitat for our children and grandchildren. For our area, there is nothing new under the sun: the design of our polders is the result of applying the principle 'water and soil guiding' avant la lettre. Nothing is positioned by chance in our polders. Even now, we are working with municipalities and the province to give water and soil a voice in the further development of our polders. Despite its location at the bottom of the Zuiderzee, our beautiful area will continue to be a good place to live for a long time to come. Provided we continue to make wise choices together. 

Solidarity, determination and perseverance. That fits the Flevoland pioneer spirit perfectly. Together we make the future in our area: Together we make Flevoland [1]. Let us do the same nationally, on our way to a water-robust and climate-resistant Netherlands.  

[1]
Together we make Flevoland is a joint program of the state and region working on the future of Flevoland.

The Pen - Hetty Klavers – Dijkgraaf Waterschap Zuiderzeeland