2026 Reports

Room For The River Waal in Nijmegen

Aniche, Laura Quadros; Martinez Varderi, Robert

The Room for the River Waal project in Nijmegen is part of the Dutch national Room for the River program aimed at improving flood safety while enhancing spatial quality through nature-based river restoration. Triggered by severe near-flood events in the 1990s, the project created a secondary river channel, relocated dikes, and formed a river island that supports recreation, urban development, and ecological functions. Implemented through multi-level governance and an extensive participatory planning process, the project transformed initial public resistance into broad acceptance and local pride. Beyond flood mitigation, the initiative strengthened urban connectivity, stimulated economic development, and improved landscape quality and well-being. The project demonstrates how multifunctional nature-based solutions can simultaneously advance climate resilience, urban livability, and stakeholder legitimacy in riverine cities.