National Water Plan 2016-2021. Country/Territory Netherlands Document type Date 2016 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Agricultural & rural development, Environment gen., Land & soil, Sea, Water Keyword Farming Fertilizers/nutrients Cultural heritage Environmental security Pesticides Disasters Land-use planning Soil pollution/quality Coastal zone management Sustainable development Sustainable use Freshwater resources management Policy/planning Monitoring Freshwater quality/freshwater pollution Groundwater Surface water Flood Water shortage/drought Water supply Waterworks Pollution control Geographical area Benelux, Europe, EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA, European Union Countries, North Atlantic, North Sea, North-East Atlantic, Western Europe Abstract This National Water Plan provides the broad outlines, principles and direction of the national water policy of the Netherlands for the 2016-2021 planning period, with a projection towards 2050. It also concerns related aspects of spatial policy. The National Water Plan lays down the central government’s strategic goals for water management. The Management and Development Plan for the National Waters by Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) outlines the conditions and measures for operational management to achieve these strategic goals. The planning period will see realistic measures being implemented that address the challenges in the short term and leave sufficient options open for taking further steps in the longer term. The Plan aims at effective protection against floods, at the prevention of pluvial flooding and drought, and at achieving good water quality and a healthy ecosystem as the basis for welfare and prosperity. The Plan incorporates the so-called "Delta Decisions" and is in line with other policies, the Environment and Planning Act, the Water Framework Directive, the European Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The Plan also contains elements of coastal zone management. Full text English