Post a comment on the text below

Room for the River in the city of   Nijmegen

In the   east part of the Netherlands, a sharp bend within the course of the river   Waal coincides with the location of the city of Nijmegen. Being enclosed by   an urban area, the limited space for the river to discharge all the incoming   water, especially during extreme events, results in a dangerous bottleneck   (FDC, 2015). This has already caused major flooding events in the past (1993   and 1995) and continues to pose a threat (Gemeente Nijmegen & i-Lent,   2015).

Under the   Room for the River programme driven by the Dutch government, an integrated   initiative is underway that will reduce flood risk in the city of Nijmegen by   moving an existing dike 350m inland, digging an ancillary channel to give the   river more room, and building bridges across the new channel. This measure   will be coupled with the creation of a river park and the redevelopment of   waterfront areas, boosting the further development of the city and providing   new opportunities for leisure and recreation (NWRM, n.d.). The long-term   involvement of a range of stakeholders, the commitment of the local   government and extensive planning and assessment efforts have gained the   project the necessary public support to start the implementations (STOWA,   n.d.).

Nijmegen   has linked the river project to plans to expand the city on the northern   banks of the River Waal. The new city bridge over the river and the Room for   the River project will change the lie of the land. In future, instead of   turning its back on the river, Nijmegen will embrace it. In 2011, the plan   received the Waterfront Award in New York. In addition to increasing high   water level protection, Room for the River has been a catalyst for urban   planning (https://www.unesco-ihe.org/sites/default/files/13270-rvdr-brochure-governance-engels_def-pdf-a.pdf).

The new   river park created on the River Waal as a result of the “room for the river”   interventions in Nijmegen serves as a new public space (more than 80 hectares)   in the heart of the city, where people of Nijmegen and Lent can enjoy the   presence of water on a daily basis, do sports and experience the floodplains.                                                                        

Photo: @Municipality   of Nijmegen