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The existing water management in Dutch polders is based on independent water systems for each polder. These are featuring artificial stabilized ground and surface water levels. As a result of the local climate the water levels in the polders are not continuously at a constant level. To maintain a stable water table in the polders, the surplus of relatively clean rainwater has to be pumped away during the cold seasons into canals or rivers, which are located on a higher level. During the summer relatively polluted water from these waterways is led into the polders to top up the declining water levels. This procedure leads to various problems regarding water quantity and water quality. The described existing system is not adaptable to climate change and includes the risk of flooding, particularly from torrential rain. Therefore it is crucial to develop, preferably self-sufficient, rainwater management systems in the polders. They should allow the fluctuation of the water levels inside the polders for seasonal storage and flood control. The described concept is adopted in the present water policy in the Netherlands as well as in research and recent urban development projects in Dutch polders.

The presented research aims to evaluate highly energy-efficient dwellings, in particular Passive Houses (PH), in Flanders and in The Netherlands, based on end-user experiences. In the introduction the definition of PH in the Benelux countries Belgium and The Netherlands is compared with the Nordic countries and certification and comfort issues are discussed. The research is based on the results of questionnaires directed to owner-occupants and inhabitants of so-called Low-Energy, Passive and Zero-Energy Houses including different types of dwellings, such as single-family houses and apartments. The satisfaction levels of inhabitants have been investigated and evaluated regarding different comfort criteria. The research results for both countries have been compared with each other. They indicate that PHs in Belgium and in The Netherlands are generally well accepted by the inhabitants and perceived as comfortable. However, the perceived comfort can vary and some deficiencies need to be addressed to achieve high levels of comfort and user satisfaction in future PH projects. Particularly, summer comfort as well as the installation quality and user friendliness of current indoor climate systems can be improved. Additionally, the development of quality assurance schemes for PHs is discussed in this paper. Based on a comparison between the Dutch and the Flemish criteria, recommendations are given on items that are currently missing in PH certification and can lead to further improvement of building processes and national policy.

Deze studie onderzocht de bewonerservaringen van 21 sociale huurders in seriematig gebouwde passiefwoningen in Nederland. Gegevens werden verzameld over de bewoners, hun motivatie om te kiezen voor hun woning, hun algemene tevredenheid met de woning en hun tevredenheid met het comfort, de klimaatregeling, het ventilatie-onderhoud en de informatieverstrekking. Deze gegevens werden geanalyseerd rekening houdend met het door de bewoners genoteerde gedrag in winter- en zomersituaties. De bewoners bleken over het algemeen tevreden te zijn, maar klaagden wel met name over koude slaapkamers. Tevens was er relatief lage tevredenheid over het ventilatiesysteem en de informatieverstrekking. De studie vond dat geluid en tocht ontwerpmatig meer aandacht verdienen en dat de verstrekking van informatie kan worden verbeterd, bijvoorbeeld over het gebruik van het ventilatiesysteem, het openen van luiken en de werking van PV panelen. Betere bewaking van prestatiecriteria werd aanbevolen voor toekomstige projecten.