Water and spatial planning: exploring governance synergies in the Netherlands – a case study and lessons for the EU

Liping Dai

Chapter 30 in Research Handbook on EU Water Law, 2026, pp 547-564 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Increasing climate change and population pressures underscore the urgent need for coordinated land and water use. Water management and spatial planning are increasingly interconnected, both within national contexts and across the EU. This Chapter investigates the Netherlands, a low-lying and densely populated country, as a prime example of the integration of these domains through policy and legal instruments. It focuses on the Dutch Water Test (Watertoets), a legal instrument that is designed to embed water interests into spatial planning decisions. Beyond a descriptive overview, the chapter explores how legal frameworks, institutional norms, and culture collectively facilitate this integration. Utilizing a combined analytical framework that accounts for legal effectiveness and institutional perspectives, the study assesses the practical application and the limitations of the Water Test. It also offers valuable lessons for other countries and provides insights into the manner in which EU-level governance could support the integration of spatial planning and water management further.

Keywords: Water management; Spatial planning; Integrated governance; Climate change; EU water; Watertoets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035336425
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