Connected River develops promising approach to challenges around waterways such as on the IJ in Amsterdam
Rivers are vital for the economy, ecology and quality of life. However, increased shipping and leisure are creating new challenges in river areas. The EU Connected River project is developing the Flow Forward methodology to tackle such challenges.
In early October 2024, the consortium partners met in Antwerp to share interim results. The methodology is proving to be promising. The decision has therefore already been made to prepare a follow-up to Connected River. Since 2022, 13 partner organisations from 6 countries have been working together to develop the Flow Forward methodology within the Connected River project.
The project was co-financed by the EU's Interreg North Sea programme. Rijkswaterstaat is the initiator and lead partner on the project.
Rivers under pressure
River areas are attracting more and more users. Not only is shipping growing intensively, but so is housing development alongside the water, leading to more leisure activity. Many waterways also play a role for drinking water and nature. The convergence of these different roles leads to new challenges that require an innovative, agile approach.
Promising new approach
The agile Flow Forward methodology focuses on finding new solutions for safe and shared use of river areas such as on the IJ in Amsterdam. The methodology is characterised by involving water users from an early stage. This creates a better understanding of the shared use which helps to ensure a solid foundation for new ideas. This leads to faster solutions for a new balance on and around the water.
Be like water
‘This methodology is not based on rules and technology, but dialogue with users. For that we need to be adaptive and agile, just like water', said Benno Bultink of Rijkswaterstaat, the initiator and Connected River programme manager. Connected River's motto therefore reads: Be like water.
Experiments with Flow Forward are currently being conducted in six pilot areas: Amsterdam (NL), Hamburg (G), Kleine Nete (B), Lille (F), Nijmegen (NL) and Vordingborg (DK).
Decision to prepare follow-up
The project will run until 2026. At the meeting in Antwerp, the partner organisations were found to be very positive about the interim results. The project's steering group therefore decided to start preparing a follow-up to Connected River.