Climate change presents growing risks to urban areas through extreme precipitation, heat stress, and drought. Addressing these challenges requires not only targeted adaptation strategies but also a rethinking of how cities integrate multiple sustainability transitions. This thesis places climate adaptation at the center of five key urban transitions—energy, mobility, circular economy, environmental health, and nature inclusiveness—and explores their interrelations within the built environment. Using a grounded theory approach, the study combines a literature review with an exploratory multiple case study of Almere, Lelystad, and Urk—three municipalities in the Dutch province of Flevoland. The case study consists of three components: a policy study based on coding and analysis of 31 municipal policy documents, a project study analyzing three spatial redevelopment and three new development projects through qualitative analysis, and three supplementary interviews with municipal professionals. The policy analysis showed that municipalities pursue an integrated urban planning approach for climate adaptation, focusing on local water retention and blue-green infrastructure. This approach lays the foundation for emerging relations with other transitions.
Relations were categorized by a framework distinguishing geographical, physical, and project-based relations. Geographical relations concern the distribution of space, showing that the mobility transition can support climate adaptation by freeing space through reduced car infrastructure. Policies in all municipalities aim to reduce car use and promote active mobility, potentially opening up space for urban greening. Although this connection is not strongly emphasized in policy, redevelopment projects especially demonstrate its potential. Conversely, the energy transition competes for space, requiring extensive infrastructure. While policies call for spatial integration, project results are mixed. Some new developments coordinate both transitions, but in others the spatial demands of the energy transition compromise climate adaptation. Physical relations concern the shared use of infrastructure. Climate adaptation shows synergies with other transitions through green and blue-green infrastructure. It aligns with the environmental health transition, both relying on urban greening to promote a healthy environment. Policy documents highlight this overlap, with green spaces designed for recreation and health. Active mobility infrastructure also integrates with blue-green spaces, promoting aesthetics and micro-climates. Nature inclusiveness further supports climate adaptation by expanding green networks and ecosystems. While opportunities exist for integrating circular and energy transitions, practical applications like rainwater reuse and green roofs were not observed in projects. Successful integration relies on aligning stakeholder agendas in project-based collaboration. Although policy documents advocate for integration to reduce costs and disruption, interviewees noted that time pressure, limited expertise, and unclear priorities often limit implementation. Climate adaptation and urban greening were frequently treated as add-ons rather than core components. By clarifying the spatial-technical relations between climate adaptation and other transitions, this research contributes to a better understanding of how municipalities can navigate the complex demands of urban sustainability in practice.

The study of water is without question an important one. We can learn a lot by studying the theory but in the end, it is essential to actually go out into the field and see the hydrological processes in practice for ourselves. The educational value of fieldwork lies not only in seeing theory become reality but also in experiencing the difficulties and limitations of gathering data first-hand.

The water resources department of the Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment (HUNRE) wanted to expand its curriculum with a fieldwork excursion that will be part of three courses related to surface water, groundwater, and water quality. During our ten weeks in Vietnam, we assisted the teaching staff of the Water Management faculty in the development of these courses. We selected multiple experiments and found suitable locations for their execution, about a three-hour drive from the university. Several times we visited the fieldwork site together with students and teachers to explore the catchment, perform experiments, and gather data. For every experiment, a comprehensive manual was written with accompanying assignments and sheets tailor-made for the fieldwork excursion. All manuals are combined into a practical document that can be brought into the field.

The experiments require a wide variety of specific pieces of equipment. Most but not all of these were present at the university. With financial support from the Orange Knowledge Project (OKP), we were able to repair existing equipment and acquire new equipment that was lacking in order to facilitate the experiments that were deemed essential. We also re-organized part of the water lab where all equipment is stored to improve the equipment’s maintenance and organization.
With the completion of this project, we believe to have made a contribution to the improvement of the quality of education at HUNRE. We hope that a lot of students can benefit from our efforts as they go on the fieldwork excursion in the coming years.