Performance of flood defences in the Netherlands during the 2021 summer floods

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

André R. Koelewijn (Deltares)

J.C. Pol (TU Delft - Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk, HKV Lijn in Water)

Malou van Schaijk (ARCADIS Nederland)

Research Group
Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk
Copyright
© 2023 André Koelewijn, J.C. Pol, Malou van Schaijk
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.59490/jcrfr.2023.0007
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 André Koelewijn, J.C. Pol, Malou van Schaijk
Research Group
Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk
Volume number
2
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Abstract

During the July 2021 Flood, the main flood defences along the River Meuse in the Netherlands performed well and did not breach. This paper is meant to document the various incidents on the flood defence system. As such, it provides an overview and description of the reported incidents related to flood defences, including a few breaches in minor flood defences. The incidents include overflow of embankments, sand boils, internal erosion at structures, and damage to a large weir and an outflow structure. Also, two local flood defences breached: an emergency embankment at Horn and an embankment in Roermond. During the event, the media reported on a dike breach at Meerssen/Bunde, however, after further investigation, it appeared that the concentrated outflow there was fuelled from a forgotten buried culvert.