• Actors: National Government, in cooperation with water authorities and provinces 

• Tool:  Floodplain reconnection and bypasses 

• Goals: Create space for Rhine and Meuse rivers to pass flood water safely while improving landscape quality and nature; add resilience for periods of low water.  

• Role during floods:  Move dikes (flood defences) back, lower floodplains, and add side channels to spread and speed safe conveyance, reduce peak water levels and load on defences, cutting breach risk. 

• Note: This programme has been a success, triggered by huge fluvial floods in 1995. A new programme ‘Room for the River 2” is at design phase, but unlikely to receive the same level of funding as the initial program. 

View Diagram

• Actors: National Government in cooperation with others, including the agricultural sector 

• Goal: Since January 2024, work has been undertaken to develop the National Adaptation Strategy 2026 (NAS’26). This is an important building block for the new climate scenarios and recent scientific reviews of climate risks. The NAS is a national strategy; it involves the collaboration of many government departments: Infrastructure and Water Management; Housing and Spatial Planning; Climate Policy and Green Growth; Economic Affairs; Justice and Security; Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature; Education, Culture and Science; Social Affairs and Employment; Health, Welfare and Sport. Other parties involved include research institutes and the umbrella organisations: the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) and Dutch Water Authorities (UvW). 

• Notes:  

  • Lack of definition and urgency (slow implementation) 

    • Too abstract – the NAS'16 (the 2016 strategy) was criticised for setting too few clear goals, leaving the policy non-binding. 

    • Acceleration needed – assessments show that climate change is occurring faster than expected, necessitating accelerated implementation of the current strategy. 

    • Reactive instead of proactive – in many programs, the analysis of climate risks is superficial, leading to a reactive approach instead of structural, preventive measures. 

  • Financial and social uncertainty 

    • Lack of resources – the lack of sufficient financial resources for large-scale adaptations is seen as an obstacle. 

    • Cost allocation – it is often unclear who bears the costs of climate adaptation (government, citizens, or businesses). There is a call for a clear 'climate damage ladder'. 

  • Policy and Administrative Bottlenecks 

    • Conflicting interests – climate adaptation often clashes with other interests, such as housing construction and intensive agriculture, leading to slow decision-making. 

    • Fragmentation – fragmentation exists within and between levels of government (municipalities, provinces, water boards), making an integrated approach difficult. 

    • Insufficient involvement of vulnerable groups – criticism focuses on the fact that vulnerable groups in society are not sufficiently reached and participation is low. 

  • Need for 'Transformation' (NAS'26) 

    • Intensification is not enough - the Scientific Climate Council (WKR) advised that 'intensification' alone (preserving existing functions with additional measures) is insufficient. 

    • Modification – the Scientific Climate Council have suggested the focus should be on 'transformation' (change of function and land use, such as building housing in locations that are compatible with water and soil conditions).  

  • Evaluation and Review 

    • A new NAS in 2026 – due to criticism of its slowness and the worsening climate scenarios, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is working on an update to the NAS'26. 

    • Scientific Climate Council recommendation – the Scientific Climate Council emphasised that the new strategy should focus more on disclosing climate risks for homes and protecting vulnerable people. 

  • The majority of the criticism focuses not so much on the purpose of the NAS, but on the lack of action, unclear cost allocation, and the need for a more radical, transformative approach to spatial planning in the Netherlands. 

• Actors: National Government in cooperation with many others 

• Goals: The Action Programme for Climate Adaptation in Agriculture describes how the agricultural sector can prepare for extreme weather and other risks associated with climate change. To do this, the sector needs help from other parties, like water authorities. 

• Notes:

• The 5 pillars of the Action Programme for Climate Adaptation in Agriculture are: 

1. Water system – a good water system helps farmers manage drought or flooding. Together, water authorities, nature site managers and farmers need to work on improving water retention in nature reserves and on farmland, to minimise the damage to plants and animals during a prolonged drought. 

2. Soil system – healthy soils can take up, store and deliver water and nutrients to plants. This is essential for good crop yields, and it is even more important in a changing climate. It also helps if farmers plough less often, use lighter machinery and grow crops with more extensive root systems. 

3. Crops and cultivation systems – extreme weather, like heatwaves, heavy rainfall, hailstorms or frost, can damage plants and crops. A changing climate can also create favourable conditions for new pests and diseases. Farmers and growers can take measures to protect their crops. For instance, they can choose varieties that are more resilient against extreme weather or grow fruit under cover. 

4. Livestock farming – heat and drought are very stressful for livestock animals like cows, pigs and poultry. Climate change may result in new pests or animal diseases. Good ventilation and cooling systems in livestock sheds help keep animals comfortable and access to shade for livestock outdoors. There are also rules for the transportation of livestock during a heat wave to safeguard animal welfare. 

5. Support – the Netherlands has many different types of landscape, such as sandy soils, coastal dunes, riverscapes, and peatland pastures. Climate change poses different problems for each type of landscape. These problems are tackled at local level in close collaboration between water authorities, municipal and provincial authorities and farmers.  

• A lot of research has been undertaken to assess the ways the agricultural sector can adapt to a changing climate. An adaptation action programme was drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, with input from the Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Association (LTO), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Dutch Water Authorities, the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO), the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), and the Dutch Association of Insurers. 

Diagram 01 | Diagram 02

• Actors: Farmers, agricultural university (Wageningen) 

• Notes:  

  • Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has developed a Climate Stress Test for open field cultivation: a practical tool that helps arable farmers, advisors, and other stakeholders to understand and discuss climate risks at the farm level. Drought, flooding, and increasing pressure from diseases and pests are increasingly impacting agricultural yields, according to WUR at the launch.  

  • The Climate Stress Test combines climate data from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), model calculations from the Waterwijzer Landbouw (Water Guide for Agriculture), and expert assessments of diseases and pests.  

  • By entering postal code, crops, and acreage, the tool shows what climate change could mean for the yield and financial risk of a specific farm. This is expressed in euros per hectare and yield change per crop. The tool distinguishes between various climate factors, such as drought, wet conditions, soil workability, and diseases and pests. 

  • The Climate Stress Test is intended as a discussion tool. The results act as a starting point for further conversation between farmers and advisors about climate adaptation and WUR noticed that starting the conversation about climate adaptation can be challenging. Farmers are often focused upon day-to-day activities, which means shifting their focus to the long term, requires extra effort. Potential measures are also linked to the results. This provides practical information about adjustments in soil, water, and crop management, including the pros and cons and their practical applicability.  

  • The tool was developed in close collaboration with farmers, advisors, educational institutions, financial institutions, and advocacy organizations. The researchers emphasised that the results of the Climate Stress Test are guidance. As climate risks can be variable and depend on local circumstances, the tool doesn't offer precise predictions, but it helps users better understand risks and make informed choices for the future. The Climate Stress Test is available free of charge at www.klimaatstresstest.nl.  

• Actors: Farmers, supported by national and local government, water authorities, Environment Agency equivalents, local councils, and Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) 

• Tool: Raised dwelling mounds (“terpen”) for farmsteads within active floodplains 

• Goals: 

  • Enable farmland to be returned to active floodplain while maintaining viable agricultural operations 

  • Protect critical farm assets (homes, livestock, machinery, stores) from flooding 

  • Increase long-term climate resilience in lowland agricultural systems 

  • Shift perception of flooding from “disaster” to “manageable event” 

• Role during floods: 

  • Farm buildings are elevated on artificial mounds above expected extreme flood levels, ensuring they remain dry even during severe events 

  • Surrounding land is allowed to flood naturally, reducing pressure on flood defences and accommodating floodwater storage 

  • Agricultural losses are largely limited to temporary crop damage, while core assets and livelihoods remain protected 

  • By separating “floodable” land from “non-floodable” assets, the system reduces overall flood risk and speeds post-flood recovery 

• Notes: 

  • Terpen are a historic Dutch adaptation measure dating back more than 2,000 years, now being revived as part of modern climate resilience strategies 

  • The approach aligns with “living with water” principles, recognising floods as temporary and manageable rather than catastrophic 

  • Recent projects in the Netherlands demonstrate how traditional practices can be integrated into contemporary floodplain restoration schemes, combining heritage with innovation 

  • The concept supports wider floodplain reconnection programmes by making it feasible for farms to operate within areas designed to flood 

  • Implementation requires appropriate regulatory approvals and coordination with environmental and planning authorities 

• While highly effective for resilience, such measures can involve significant upfront investment and site-specific design, meaning they may sit outside standard guidance or funding frameworks 

• The approach highlights a broader transition toward adaptive land use, where human activity is redesigned to work with natural water systems rather than resist them 

• Actors: Farmers. 

• Goals: To compile a list of useful measures that farmers can undertake for good water and soil management. Measures are eligible for subsidies (by waterboards, provinces). The ‘BOOT-list’ gives legitimacy (for subsidies) to the boards.   

• Notes:

  • Farm Management  

    • Switches to a fully grass-fed farm 

    • Develop a broader cropping plan with break crops, and rotations that exceed those required by the 7th Environment Action Programme (Nitrate Directive) 

    • Use a tool to gain insight into nutrient and pesticide emissions 

    • Implement measures to combat nutrient and pesticide emissions 

    • Promote cooperation on land use rotation to prevent soil depletion and/or improve soil structure 

    • Develop an area-specific plan focused on soil and water management 

    • Develop a wetland crop management plan 

    • Use decision support systems for irrigation, fertiliser application, and crop protection 

    • Employ extensive grazing (maximum 1.5 livestock units per hectare). 

    • Develops a fertiliser plan 

    • Develop a soil passport 

    • Employ agroforestry in farm management: plants trees and shrubs on plots with arable crops or grassland 

    • Employ circular agriculture: minimise unnecessary use and losses of nutrients, minerals, energy, water, raw materials, and crop protection. Practice good soil management and the reuses of waste products. 

    • Participate in knowledge exchange programs, study groups, or thematic meetings 

  • Soil Improvement  

    • Use fixed tramlines on the plot using GPS 

    • Construct terraced areas 

    • Apply drag hose (umbilical) fertiliser methods (preferably with low tire pressure) 

    • Use no-inversion tillage or eco-plough with mechanical tillage if necessary 

    • Prevent rutting due to low tire pressure, uses lighter machinery, and/or by not tilling the soil in wet conditions 

    • Till the soil perpendicular to the slope 

    • Use a combination of shallow and deep rooting grass species 

    • Use a combination of shallow and deep rooting (dormant) crops 

    • Level out depressions in plots (to remove wet areas) 

    • Establish organic matter balances and, if necessary, add compost or other sources that increase soil organic matter 

    • Convert grassland into productive, species-rich grassland 

    • Improve soil structure by applying soil improvers 

  • Crop Protection Products  

    • Use a washing area with a purification system 

    • Use an emission-free box cleaner and/or a leak-proof bulb cart 

    • Choose a variety of crops and varieties that are more resistant to diseases and pests 

    • Use crop protection products with a low risk profile, if possible, of natural origin 

    • Use non-chemical soil disinfection, for example, through flooding or the cultivation of marigolds 

    • Use biological and/or natural pest control, with special attention to strip cropping, (flowery) field margins, and green manures to prevent nematodes and soil-borne diseases and pests 

    • Use mechanical or non-chemical (weed) control 

    • Work the green manure and/or turf mechanically and incorporate it mechanically instead of spraying it to kill it  

    • Use a closed system for filling, dosing, and internal cleaning of spray equipment and packaging 

    • Use sensor controlled or other selective and targeted spray equipment 

    • Use spraying techniques with higher drift reduction than legally required 

    • Maintain a wider cultivation free zone along surface water than legally prescribed 

  • Land Management  

    • Optimise grazing 

    • Maximise the proportion of permanent grassland 

    • Grow crops to reduce phosphate on fields with a high phosphate status 

    • Improve grass cover by reducing the mowing and/or grazing length from 5 to 7 cm. 

    • Grow early maturing crops and sows a nitrogen catch crop immediately after harvest (or under sown maize) 

    • Apply green manures 

    • Prevent fallow land in winter 

    • Use mixed cropping 

    • Do not grow leaching prone crops on leaching prone soils to reduce the risk to groundwater 

    • Do not grow maize (but rather grass, for example) on wet soils (GWT 75%)

• Actors: Farmers, Insurers, EU (funding via CAP), RVO (which is the Dutch equivalent of the Rural Payments Agency) 

• Goals: The Comprehensive Weather Insurance offers agricultural businesses protection against weather damage (hail, storms, drought, frost, rain) to open-field crops, with a government subsidised premium of up to 63.7%. Applications for the subsidy can be submitted from 1 March to 15 May 2026 to the Combined Declaration at RVO.nl. A total of €17.5 million in subsidies is available in 2026. A ceiling has been set for the subsidy; if the ceiling is exceeded, a pro-rata deduction will be made. The policy covers damage caused by extreme weather conditions, including hail, storms, heavy rainfall, drought, frost, snow, sleet, and fire caused by lightning. This insurance is offered by recognised companies, such as Vereinigte Hagel (with Secufarm and Agriver). Policy approval by the insurer is required, often with a deadline before December 1, 2025. 

• Notes: 

  • The comprehensive weather insurance in Dutch agriculture is intended to cover crop damage caused by extreme weather (hail, drought, frost, rain) but has received considerable criticism. Despite government support through premium subsidies, participation is low (only about 1 in 10 arable farmers is insured). 

  • The main points of criticism are: 

    • High costs (premium): Despite the government subsidising more than 60% of the premium, many farmers still find the insurance too expensive. The deductible is often substantial, making it financially unattractive. 

    • Limited coverage/Payout: The insurance often does not pay out at the first sign of damage; there is a high threshold (deductible) before the insurance takes effect. 

    • Unpredictability: Insurers find it difficult to determine the premium, leading to fluctuating prices. 

    • Ad-hoc government support: There is criticism that the government sometimes intervenes in the event of major disasters, which reduces the benefit of farmers' own insurance. 

    • Call for alternatives: Due to low participation and high costs, some parties (such as MEP Annie Schreijer-Pierik) are advocating replacing insurance with direct compensation for genuine natural disasters. 

    • Grower sentiment: Many arable farmers do not view insurance as an effective risk management tool and prefer to take the risk themselves. 

  • While evaluations show that insurance does contribute to the sector's resilience, insurers and agricultural organizations (LTO) point out that insurance is unlikely to survive without continued and structural government subsidies.