Netherlands

From WaterWiki.net

Netherlands is part of:
Europe & CIS · Western Europe ·
Water Basins of Netherlands:
Rhine · Schelde ·

Facts & Figures

edit

Capital

Amsterdam

Neighbouring Countries

Belgium, France, Germany

Total Area

41,526 km²

- Water

7,643 km² (18.41%) / 1,841 m²/ha

- Land

33,883 km²

Coastline

451 km

Population

16,423,431 (395 inhab./km²)

HDI^A

0.958 (2007)

Gini Coefficient^A

30.9 (1995)

Nominal GDP^B

$909,500 million

GDP (PPP) Per Capita^B

$41,300

National UN Presence

UNEP

Land Use^C

- Cultivated Land

7,702 km² (22.73%)

- Arable

7,441 km² (21.96%)

- Permanent Crops

261 km² (0.77%)

- Irrigated

5,650 km²

- Non cultivated

203 km² (77.27%)

Average Annual Rainfall^D

778 mm

Renewable Water Resources^E

89.7 km³

Water Withdrawals^F	2.11 km³/yr
- For Agricultural Use	34%
- For Domestic Use	6%
- For Industrial Use	60%
- Per Capita	499 m³

Population with safe access to
- Improved Water Source	100%
- Urban population	100%
- Rural population	100%
- Improved Sanitation	100%
- Urban population	100%
- Rural population	100%

References & Remarks

^A UNDP Human Development Report

^B CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia

^C CIA World Factbook Country Profiles

^D Aquastat - FAO's Information System on Water and Agriculture

^E CIA World Factbook

^F Earthtrends

WWDR3Netherlands.png

1 News
2 Country Profile: Climate, Geography, Socio-Economic Context
3 Country Profile: Water Bodies and Resources
4 Country Profile: Legal and Institutional Environment
5 Country Profile: Water Sector Coordination
6 Country Profile: Trends in Water Use, Management and Sanitation
7 Country Profile: Challenges and Opportunities
8 Articles
9 Projects and Case Studies
10 Publications
11 Who is Who
12 References
13 See also
14 External Resources

News

Country Profile: Climate, Geography, Socio-Economic Context

The Netherlands is located in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium to the south, Germany to the east and the North Sea to the north and west. Geographically, the Netherlands is a flat, low lying country formed by the estuary of four important European rivers: the Rhine, the Meuse, the Ems and the Schelde. Two-thirds of the country is threatened by flooding. Through history, the country has defended itself against threats posed by water, building dikes and dams, canalizing rivers and reclaiming land from the sea. Today, about 9.6 million of its inhabitants (60% of the population) live below sea level, and about 70% of the country’s GDP is generated below sea level (Netherlands Water Partnership, 2006), thanks to a 3,500 km primary flood defence system composed of dikes and sand dunes.

Climate Change - The Danger of Floods and A Rising Sea

In 2006, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) announced the results of a new study based on four climate change scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The projections for 2050 include temperature increases of up to 2.9°C, the possibility of as much as 14% more precipitation in winter, and hotter summers with fewer rainy days but up to 27% more extreme rainfall events. These changes are likely to increase the flow of rivers in winter and the probability of longer dry periods in summer.

Besides a currently projected absolute rise in sea level of 35 to 85 cm by 2100, allowance needs to be made for land subsidence in the west, which will make the relative sea level rise even greater. Accordingly, the Governmental Delta Committee advised in 2008 that the Netherlands should prepare for an overall sea level rise of 0.65 to 1.30 metres by 2100. These changes will have a definite impact on flood protection measures, water resource availability, the environment and the economy. The Delta Committee has drawn up an integrated vision, including risk management and investment components, to help the country cope better with climate change.

Country Profile: Water Bodies and Resources

Although there are some local water shortages, the presence of large rivers such as the Rhine and its tributaries, as well as the Meuse, ensures that water quantity and water allocation to various sectors are not generally an issue in the Netherlands. Only 9% of the total annual renewable water resources is used. In recent years, however, periods of low river flow have become more frequent and tended to last longer. Recent studies indicate that water level and water quality and control may be most severely affected during the summer, when longer dry spells are expected. Water shortages and decreasing quality would affect agriculture, navigation, the energy sector (cooling water), nature and tourism. Consequently, the Dutch water management system could face a new challenge of having to allocate freshwater to priority areas. Current national priorities for freshwater allocation are based on minimizing irreversible damage and economic losses.

Country Profile: Legal and Institutional Environment

Responsibility for the management of natural water systems in the Netherlands and for protecting residents from flooding is largely allocated to the Waterschappen (regional water authorities or water boards).

The 26 current Waterschappen constitute a fourth form of government body in the Netherlands, alongside the central, provincial and municipal governments. These decentralized public authorities focus on water quality and quantity, water management and flood protection, and wastewater treatment. They are also active in environmental development. (Issues concerning spatial planning and the environment are first vetted by provinces and municipalities.) Sanitation is the joint responsibility of municipalities, which deal with the sewage systems, and the Waterschappen, which focus on wastewater treatment. In addition, water supply companies are responsible for delivering safe drinking water. Groundwater is the responsibility of the provinces.