ABSTRACT
The hydrological situation in the Netherlands is typical for a deltaic region. Many parts of the country are below sea level (mainly the Holocene portion), and without flood protection measures, they would be inundated frequently by either the sea or the Rhine and Meuse rivers. Thanks to highly sophisticated management by special authorities—the water boards (see Chapter 8), which have existed for centuries—people are able to live and work here. But flood protection is not the only aim of water management. Upward seepage of seawater contains salt and nutrients, which can result in undesirable water quality, so qualitative management is also necessary to ensure that people can drink or enjoy the water, farmers can use it to irrigate their land, and it will foster the biodiversity of nature, both aquatic and terrestrial.
