Climate adaptation

The battle against the water (and the heat) is changing. In the European Netherlands, the focus had predominantly been on protection against the sea for a long time. Due to climate change, the water is now increasingly also coming from other sources: via rivers, heavy precipitation, and from below due to increasing salinisation in coastal areas. In addition, we are increasingly facing extreme heat. The Caribbean Netherlands are increasingly facing higher temperatures, stronger wind speeds, rising sea levels, and hurricanes of the most severe category. The challenges are increasing significantly and the task is changing. That is why the National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS) from 2026 is revised. The new strategy, which is now available in draft version, outlines what is required for the Netherlands to be climate-resilient: now and in the future.

The new NAS also contains, both for the European and for the Caribbean Netherlands, a more thorough analysis and broader approach to keep the Netherlands resilient and capable of withstanding challenges. In this new NAS we also look ahead (to 2100), we demonstrate with pathways what policy options are available in the short and (medium-)long term, and we set specific targets to become more climate-resilient. In the end, tough choices are needed. This does not only apply to the Central Government, but also to other official authorities and other organisations. The NAS'26 elaborates the foundation that makes it possible to make these tough choices, and targets that are as specific as possible were developed. By being clear about our ambitions and goals for improvement for climate resilience, we also invite other official authorities, businesses, social organisations, and citizens to contribute to this.

The Draft NAS is the result of close cooperation between the Ministries of BZK, EZK, IenW, JenV, LVVN, OCW, and VWS. Many other parties were also involved in the preparation of the Draft NAS. You can read about this in the background document, an appendix of the draft programme.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA Plan) was also prepared for the NAS. This assessment addresses the environmental impact and also highlights other surrounding impacts. An appropriate review was also drawn up. In it, any potential consequences of the policy choices for the Nature 2000 areas were assessed.

You can react to the draft programme National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS) and the thereto-pertaining environmental impact assessment (EIA Plan). There are no formal rules applicable to writing an opinion. You can do this in your own way. You can also react to one of the following questions:

1. Does the Draft NAS offer sufficient clarity as to what is required for the Netherlands to be climate-resilient, now and in the future?

2. Does the Draft NAS offer sufficient clarity as to what the Central Government is going to do?

3. Does the Draft NAS offer sufficient clarity as to what others (e.g. other official authorities, businesses, social organisations, and citizens) can do?

All documents are available digitally on the Participation Platform from Tuesday 9 June up to and including Monday 20 July 2026. It regards the draft programme and the appendices, e.g. the environmental impact assessment and the background document in which it is explained how the Draft NAS came into being.

The Draft NAS and the summary of the EIA Plan were translated into English. In addition, the chapters from the Draft NAS that regard the Caribbean Netherlands (Chapters 1, 2, and 5) and the summary of the EIA Plan were translated into Papiamentu. These documents are available on the Participation Platform and at the bottom of this page.

You can consult the documents in hard copy during office hours and only by appointment at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management:

• Rijnstraat 8, The Hague, telephone: +3170 – 456 96 07

The documents can also be consulted by appointment (telephone: +599 715 83 33) at the offices of the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland:

• Bonaire location: Kaya Internashonal n/n, Kralendijk, Bonaire
• Saba location: Matthew Levenstone Road, The Bottom, Saba
• St. Eustatius location: Fort Oranjestraat n/n (Green & White Cove), Oranjestad.

Everyone can submit an opinion on the Draft NAS and the EIA Plan from Tuesday 9 June up to and including Monday 20 July. An opinion can be submitted in three ways:

• Digitally
  If you submit an opinion from the European Netherlands, this is possible via the form on the website of the Participation Platform. Are you from the Caribbean Netherlands or abroad? Then you can email your opinion to info@platformparticipatie.nl.

• Orally
  You can schedule an appointment for the recording of your oral opinion during office hours via telephone number +3170 – 456 96 07 or by sending an email to info@platformparticipatie.nl.

• By post
  Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Participation Directorate, stating National Climate Adaptation Strategy, PO Box 20901, 2500 EX The Hague or to one of the aforementioned locations of the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland.

The Draft NAS is also submitted to the relevant administrative bodies, e.g. the Public Entities and various statutory advisers. In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee (EIA Committee) is requested for an opinion on the EIA Plan.

After the consultation period, all opinions received are read carefully. We use the opinions, the reactions of the administrative bodies and statutory advisers and the opinion of the EIA Committee when preparing the definitive NAS. This is expected to be published at the end of 2026.

In a Memorandum of Response, we react to the opinions, reactions, and recommendations and we indicate how they affected the NAS. We publish the Memorandum of Response together with the definitive NAS. If you submitted an opinion, you receive a message when the Memorandum of Response is available and the programme has been adopted. It is not possible to appeal against the programme.