Netherlands - Discussed upon water management policy and related projects

The Netherlands has the territory which is lower than sea level (one fourth) and has the Rhine, the Meuse and the Scheldt River flowed into the North Sea. So, they had initiated water management policy earlier than any other countries in the world. After suffering disastrous flood in Zeeland (1953), Dutch government has continued keeping coherent and stable water management project, namely, ‘Delta Works’. Thanks to the project, although several times there were hazardously high water level crisis of the Rhine and Meuse in 1993, 1995 and 1998, no flood damages they had. Hence, the Dutch government adopted National Water Plan in order that they make the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta area into sustainably residential settlement in 2009. This plan to be continued until 2015 has its purpose on flood prevention, securing of sufficient water and multi-purpose utilization of water resource. The similar one to our project is the Room-for-the-River Project (Dutch Gov’t-led river restoration project which broaden the river's width). After having been damaged from flood in 1993 and 1995, they established a basin-unit comprehensive flood control plan so to ensure the security of the residents. The purpose is to expand retention space in 39 districts in the Netherlands and to secure environmental quality. It is similar to the project of South Korea in the context which it raises up water control security against flood and quality of life by sustainable development on waterfront areas. However, the Four Major River Restoration Project, about 8 times larger in aggregate costs, is more integral and accords closely with multi-purpose needs.