In the Netherlands there is nowadays much concern about increasing water levels in the rivers, flooding and the accelerated rise in sea level. The sea dominates the Dutch geography and the mouths of four great rivers, water and natural space are inextricably bound to one another. For centuries spatial planning in the low-lying Netherlands has been a matter of separating and maintaining the separation between land and water, with high economic benefits. But at the same time the ecological status of the river systems deteriorated and the natural habitats were fragmented very much. But changes are brewing. Climate changes are increasing the likelihood of flooding and water related problems. In addition, population density continues to grow, as the potential of the economy does and, consequently, the vulnerability of the economy and society to disaster. This change involves the idea that the Netherlands will have relinquish space to water, in order to curb the growing risk of disaster due to flooding, limit water related problems and even be able to store water. This means space in the sense of breadth. This will cost land and money, but in return we will increase safety and limit water related problems. And moreover we will be able to restore to a certain extend our river systems from a geomorphological, hydro dynamical and ecological point of view. But in this way safety must play a different role in spatial planning. Only by making "Room for the River" things can be set right. This means that different measures should be taken. In this case for the river Rhine, measures between the winter dykes and/or measures outside the winter dykes the river Rhine. This can be done according different spatial concepts based on an integrated physical planning policy.
