Level decisions

Balancing of interests

Water management is a complex interplay of interests. Within a single area, such as a polder, people use the land for various purposes, such as housing, recreation, agriculture, and industry. The residents of such an area want a dry crawl space under their homes, farmers in the same area want ideal (ground)water levels for their crops, and nature conservationists may want to maintain the unique wetland vegetation, which requires relatively high water levels. In order to accommodate the various interests as much as possible, the land is divided into many water level areas. In a water level decision, we set the target level for each water level area and the margins within which the water level may be set. The decisive factor in this is the weighing of interests of the various functions within a water level area.

How is a water level decision made?

A leveling decision goes through the following steps:

1. When drawing up a water level decision, we assess the extent to which the current established water level is still the most desirable level for a water level area. In doing so, we take stock of the functions, stakeholders, and interests in the area concerned.
2. We then examine whether these stakeholders have any particular concerns or wishes that make changes to the established water level necessary or desirable. We investigate these concerns or wishes and take them into account when weighing up the interests involved. The assessment is set out in a report: the 'explanatory notes to the water level decision'.
3. Our executive committee (D&H) adopts the draft resolution and the explanatory notes.
4. We will present the draft decision and accompanying explanation to the public via the website officielebekendmakingen.nl/. You will then have six weeks to submit your opinion. We refer to this as the consultation period.
5. After processing opinions, our general board (CHI) will adopt the water level decision.
6. You then have six weeks to appeal the water level decision in court. If you do not do so, the water level decision becomes irrevocable and we may begin preparations for implementation. If no work is required to set the water level, it will be set immediately.

Current water level decisions

In the coming years, we will be working on new water level decisions for Zijpe, Callantsoog, and Wieringen.

Adopted water level decisions

An interactive map showing the water level decisions is available.

After 2017

Our recent water level decisions can be found in the official announcements on the government website. The button below takes you directly to our water level decisions. Use the search bar to find the water level decision for your polder.

Announcements

Until 2017

You can find older water level decisions below. Some files are too large for this website (> 20 MB) and can be requested via our contact form if desired. These are the water level decisions for the Amstelmeerboezem, Anna Paulowna, Geestmerambacht, Noord Kennemerland, Purmerend, Texel, Westerkogge, Wormer, and Wijdewormer.

Want to know more?

For further information about the water level decisions, please use ourcontact formor call us on +31 (0)72 582 8282.