Dutch Industrial Estates Vulnerable to Climate Change Flooding

A significant portion of industrial estates in the Netherlands are ill-prepared for increasing flood risks due to climate change, according to an analysis by Working Landscapes of the Future. The study reveals that approximately 70 percent of these areas lack adequate protection against the impacts of global warming.

Millions of Workers at Risk

The analysis indicates that nearly one in three working Dutch citizens are employed in locations vulnerable to flooding. Program coordinator Daphne Teeling of Working Landscapes of the Future notes that during heavy rainfall, as many as one in five buildings could experience 15 centimeters of water accumulation. Many business owners are unaware of these risks and the potential consequences.

Safety Measures Lagging

These findings align with previous warnings from the Dutch Safety Board in January, which highlighted that safety measures are not keeping pace with the increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events. The board identified this as an underestimated problem, extending to industrial estates.

Tile and Asphalt Contribute to the Problem

Working Landscapes of the Future found that 48 percent of industrial estates are predominantly covered in impermeable surfaces like tiles and asphalt. This exacerbates flooding issues and contributes to increased heat levels. The analysis similarly showed that one in ten industrial estates experiences temperatures more than 10 degrees Celsius higher than surrounding areas on hot summer days (at 33 degrees Celsius).

Regional Vulnerabilities

Industrial estates in North Brabant are particularly susceptible to heat stress, with 16 percent exceeding the 10-degree Celsius threshold on hot days. In contrast, companies in Zeeland are the least vulnerable, at 7 percent.

Greening as a Solution

The study emphasizes the potential of green infrastructure to mitigate both flooding and heat. Currently, only one in six industrial estates has sufficient tree cover. Increasing the amount of hedges and shrubs from the current average of 4 percent to 15 percent is recommended to improve biodiversity and climate resilience.

Immediate Actions Possible

Teeling suggests that numerous quick and effective solutions are available. “In the long term, entrepreneurs will have to unite and function together to make their area climate-adaptive. But you can also do something tomorrow: plant a hedge, plant trees on your plot, open the paving. This will make a sizeable difference against flooding and heat stress.”

About Working Landscapes of the Future

Working Landscapes of the Future is an initiative of IVN Nature Education, supported by various ministries, focused on creating climate-adaptive landscapes.