Legislation

The new Water Act has created a framework for the modernisation of Dutch water management required for the coming decades. The integration of a number of authorisations will reduce administrative burden for citizens and businesses. The Water Act links up well with the new Spatial Planning Act, which will enhance the relationship with spatial environmental policy.

One integrated act simplifies the implementation of the European Water Directives. This applies, among other things, to the Water Framework Directive, which is based on the management of international transboundary river basins (rivers, lakes and deltas), the Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.