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https://beeldbank.rws.nl, Rijkswaterstaat / Joop van Houdt
Developments in the delta
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We are talking 2050…
… the Netherlands is the greenest city in the world. The country is a cosmopolitan centre. The
Netherlands combines an attractive living environment with an intensive knowledge economy. In
addition to international trade and food exports, the worldwide provision of specialist services in
the field of water management, the subsurface, food production, bio- and nanotechnology and
sustainable energy is an important component of our economic activity. The Netherlands is the
world’s largest exporter of ideas and technologies for providing the planet’s major deltas with
security in terms of water, food and energy.
Technological developments have opened up new
opportunities for economic growth. The Nether-
lands has made the most of this by generating
large amounts of knowledge at an early stage in
its different university centres. The combination
of knowledge and the encouragement of collabo-
ration between business and research centres
has led to the rapid transformation of new
scientific insight into practical applications.
Globalisation means that the location of work is
no longer relevant and people live where life is
pleasant and healthy. The development of an
attractive living environment has therefore
become essential as a factor in the establish-
ment of the Netherlands as an economic centre.
Energy, health and food
In terms of sustainability, the Netherlands is
exceptional because the country is largely
self-sufficient in terms of raw materials, energy
and food. Given its high population density, that
is a major achievement. The energy comes from
the sun, the wind, geothermal sources, from
waste and from biofuels. In addition, the water-
rich Netherlands obtains energy from osmosis in
fresh-salt water interfaces and from tidal plants.
Energy is stored in the subsurface in sustainable
ways, and by moving water in and out of polders.
Energy production fluctuates considerably
depending on the natural conditions. Supply and
demand are matched on the basis of weather
forecasts and predictions of energy require-
ments. And so, in part because of smart
approaches to energy storage and tailor-made
Deltares Strategic Plan
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