Key future trends for Dutch water governance

Four broad categories of long-term drivers affect water risks and the capacity of the current water management system to adequately respond to them today and in the future: climate change, economic and demographic trends, socio-political trends illustrated by European water policies, and innovation and technologies. This chapter synthesises projected effects of these drivers on water demand and water availability, water governance and financing in the Netherlands. It explores consequences for Dutch water management, in particular with regard to path dependency and resilience. Potential consequences are discussed, on governance and institutions, infrastructure design and financing, and policies that affect water risks.