Considerations on Managed Realignment in The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a small and densely populated country located in the deltas of the rivers Rhine, Meuse, Ems and Scheldt and bordering the North Sea. The low-lying polders behind the dunes and dikes are vulnerable to flooding by rivers and the sea. The dunes, beaches, saltmarshes and intertidal flats are highly valued as natural habitats and recreation areas, but above of all, essential for flood protection. For that reason, sustainable management of these areas is vital and much effort is spent by different authorities concerning with managing the coast. A range of managed options are used along different sectors of the Dutch coast, including the realignment of the shoreline, either landward or seaward, to create space for coastal habitat development and a natural buffer zone for flood protection through dissipation of wave energy. This chapter illustrates the approaches of coastal management applied along the Dutch coast, including an recent experience with managed realignment.