In this study, the effects of extreme flood events on vegetation and morphological patterns in a natural river were investigated. For this purpose a new vegetation-development model was introduced and linked to a hydro-morphodynamic Delft3D Flexible Mesh model. Based on the results in this study it can be concluded that the direct effects of an extreme flood are relatively low, with almost no vegetation removed during a flood event. However, the extreme floods lead to an increased area suitable for seedling colonization within the river floodplain, which is partly caused by the formation of a secondary channel in the extreme flood scenarios. This causes an increase in the seedling recruitment rate in the years directly after an extreme flood and in a higher vegetation coverage.