Rhine Estuary-Drechtsteden
The Rhine Estuary, the Drechtsteden area and the connected areas of Haringvliet, Hollands Diep and the waters linked to them (the Northern Delta Basins) form the transitional zone between the North Sea and the Rhine and Meuse rivers. The sea and rivers meet up here.
In this area, the expected climate change could cause higher sea levels, increased discharges from rivers and salt intrusion (resulting in the soil salination of the agricultural areas). This constitutes a threat to, among other things, agriculture, horticulture, ecology and maintaining the water level. With a view to this problem, the Delta Commission recommended in 2008 to investigate whether barriers should be constructed to make the area 'closable but open'. By using flexible barriers, the mouth of the Rhine area can be closed off at high water.
The sub-programme Rhine Estuary-Drechtsteden is the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.
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