A climate-resilient Netherlands: WUR's response to the 2026 National Climate Adaptation Strategy
The climate is changing faster and becoming more extreme, and the climate adaptation challenge is changing with it. In 2026, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management therefore drafted a new National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS’26). During the public consultation period, the Ministry invited stakeholders to reflect on the strategy from a range of perspectives: does the NAS provide sufficient clarity about what is needed, what central government will do and how other parties can contribute?
Drawing on its broad scientific expertise, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) took this opportunity to review the Draft NAS and formulate a well-founded response. Based on this analysis, we present five overarching recommendations for further strengthening the National Climate Adaptation Strategy and making it more concrete. We also set out a number of key messages and recommendations from across WUR's areas of expertise. An intermezzo explores the tensions between the agriculture and nature sectors, while a separate section considers the chapter on the Caribbean Netherlands.
We consider the Draft NAS a strong foundation for climate adaptation, while also identifying areas where it could be strengthened. We would welcome further discussion of our recommendations and the next steps.
Five overarching recommendations for the NAS26
1. Clarify what climate-resilient means
2. Develop a long-term perspective for a climate-resilient Netherlands in conjunction with other (spatial) challenges
3. Make a more explicit commitment to a transformative approach, using the natural system as the basis for spatial choices
4. Avoid non-committal language and clarify who is responsible for what
5. Use innovative and creative forms of communication
Key messages and recommendations at a glance
In addition to our five overarching recommendations, WUR experts assessed several sector-specific challenges in the Draft NAS. Their analysis shows that the five recommendations above are broadly supported by WUR's sector-specific assessments.
| Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s) | Key message | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
4.1 Properly protected against flooding | The Draft NAS is well aligned with existing water policy but does not develop the multi-layered safety approach in sufficient detail. | Explicitly address all layers of multi-layered safety and strengthen crisis management, recovery and spatial choices. |
4.2 Robustness and resilience in the face of pluvial flooding | The consequences and dilemmas associated with decisions on pluvial flooding receive insufficient attention. | Make conflicting interests explicit and explore the consequences of different choices in greater detail. |
4.3 Resilient to increasing freshwater shortages | The Draft NAS relies too heavily on technical solutions. | Place greater emphasis on water conservation, system-level choices and managing unavoidable shortages. |
4.4 Safe and healthy water quality | The approach to chemical water quality is strong, but an ecological, systems-based approach is largely absent. | Take an integrated, river-basin-level approach to water quality and strengthen habitat quality. |
4.5 Climate-resilient agriculture | The Draft NAS provides a sound basis but is hesitant to make fundamental long-term choices. | Make explicit choices about spatial planning, water allocation and alignment with other transitions. |
4.6 Resilient nature | Climate resilience requires nature to serve as a foundation, rather than being treated as a separate sector. | Position nature restoration and natural processes as an essential foundation for climate adaptation. |
Intermezzo: Agriculture and nature | Adaptation in agriculture and nature is strongly interconnected. | Make spatial choices in good time and give government a clear coordinating role. |
4.8 Heat-resilient cities, towns and villages | Heat is both a physical and a social issue; the level of ambition could be higher. | Adopt an integrated approach to urban greening, water and mobility. |
4.9 Staying healthy in times of climate change | The integrated approach is strong, but responsibility for coordination and implementation remains unclear. | Clarify responsibilities and strengthen the social and organisational dimensions. |
4.11 Climate-adaptive new developments | The ambitions are sound but are not yet sufficiently embedded in design and implementation. | Systematically embed climate adaptation and water use in design, spatial planning and management. |
The Caribbean Netherlands | The Draft NAS rightly gives attention to the Caribbean Netherlands, but still treats it as too separate from the rest of the strategy. | Fully integrate the Caribbean Netherlands into the NAS and develop adaptation pathways. |
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.1 Properly protected against flooding
Judith KlostermannKey messageThe Draft NAS is well aligned with existing water policy but does not develop the multi-layered safety approach in sufficient detail.
RecommendationExplicitly address all layers of multi-layered safety and strengthen crisis management, recovery and spatial choices.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.2 Robustness and resilience in the face of pluvial flooding
Guido BakemaKey messageThe consequences and dilemmas associated with decisions on pluvial flooding receive insufficient attention.
RecommendationMake conflicting interests explicit and explore the consequences of different choices in greater detail.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.3 Resilient to increasing freshwater shortages
Guido BakemaKey messageThe Draft NAS relies too heavily on technical solutions.
RecommendationPlace greater emphasis on water conservation, system-level choices and managing unavoidable shortages.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.4 Safe and healthy water quality
Ralf Verdonschot
Jeroen VeraartKey messageThe approach to chemical water quality is strong, but an ecological, systems-based approach is largely absent.
RecommendationTake an integrated, river-basin-level approach to water quality and strengthen habitat quality.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.5 Climate-resilient agriculture
Katrien DescheemaekerKey messageThe Draft NAS provides a sound basis but is hesitant to make fundamental long-term choices.
RecommendationMake explicit choices about spatial planning, water allocation and alignment with other transitions.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.6 Resilient nature
Paul Mathijssen
Rogier VogelijKey messageClimate resilience requires nature to serve as a foundation, rather than being treated as a separate sector.
RecommendationPosition nature restoration and natural processes as an essential foundation for climate adaptation.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
Intermezzo: Agriculture and nature
Jessie BeirnaertKey messageAdaptation in agriculture and nature is strongly interconnected.
RecommendationMake spatial choices in good time and give government a clear coordinating role.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.8 Heat-resilient cities, towns and villages
Joop SpijkerKey messageHeat is both a physical and a social issue; the level of ambition could be higher.
RecommendationAdopt an integrated approach to urban greening, water and mobility.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.9 Staying healthy in times of climate change
Joyce ZwartkruisKey messageThe integrated approach is strong, but responsibility for coordination and implementation remains unclear.
RecommendationClarify responsibilities and strengthen the social and organisational dimensions.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
4.11 Climate-adaptive new developments
Joop Spijker
Joris VoetenKey messageThe ambitions are sound but are not yet sufficiently embedded in design and implementation.
RecommendationSystematically embed climate adaptation and water use in design, spatial planning and management.
- Sector-specific challenge and WUR expert(s)
The Caribbean Netherlands
Anouk Cormont
Peter VerweijKey messageThe Draft NAS rightly gives attention to the Caribbean Netherlands, but still treats it as too separate from the rest of the strategy.
RecommendationFully integrate the Caribbean Netherlands into the NAS and develop adaptation pathways.
Detailed analysis by challenge and for the Caribbean Netherlands
From page 9 onwards, the report provides the evidence underpinning the sector-specific analyses on which the overarching recommendations are based. It presents the main findings for each sector-specific challenge and for the Caribbean Netherlands. Each section begins with a key message, followed by strengths, points for attention and specific recommendations.
Questions or interested in discussing this further?
If you have any questions about this analysis or the recommendations, please contact Daan Verstand.
