Dolhain Gives Rivers Space Back in Flood Prevention Project
In the Belgian town of Dolhain, a radically different approach to flood prevention is taking shape — one that gives rivers room to breathe rather than trying to contain them. Located at the confluence of the Vesdre river and the Ruyff stream in the municipality of Limbourg, Liège Province, the project marks a shift from traditional dike-building toward nature-based solutions that work with waterways instead of against them.
A Paradigm Shift After Catastrophe
The approach comes in response to the catastrophic July 2021 floods that devastated the Vesdre valley, killing 39 people across Wallonia and causing billions of euros in damage. Dolhain was among the worst-hit localities. The narrow, constrained river channels — exacerbated by historical industrial development that had buried the Ruyff underground — created a bottleneck effect that amplified the flood’s destructive power.
Rather than rebuilding higher dikes and concrete channelization, authorities chose a different path. According to RTBF, the project focuses on renaturation: creating natural overflow zones, restoring buried streams to open air, and demolishing buildings in high-risk flood zones.
The Ruyff Stream Returns to Daylight
A centerpiece of the project is the restoration of the Ruyff stream (also spelled Rhuyff), which was historically diverted underground for the textile industry. The stream is being brought back to the surface with a new, straightened open-air channel running alongside the railway line. As Mathieu Massinon, project manager at the Walloon Public Service for Non-Navigable Waterways, explained: “The goal was to really put it back in the open air. Beyond that, we modified and straightened its bed so it could join the Vesdre more directly and no longer constitute a critical point during floods.”
The Ruyff project received 5 million euros from the Walloon Region — 2 million initially, with an additional 3.2 million announced in April 2023 by then-Environment Minister Céline Tellier, as reported by L’Avenir.
Difficult Trade-Offs: Demolitions and Expropriations
The project requires difficult sacrifices. Several buildings in high-risk flood zones — including garages and homes — have been or will be demolished to make way for the river. The Logivesdre social housing units in the Vieux Moulin district are also slated for removal.
Resident Patrick Nols, whose property is being expropriated, told RTBF in 2023: “Yes, I live in the neighborhood, I was flooded and part of my property — 150 square meters of garages — will be expropriated and demolished. That’s very good because it’s for improvement and to finally have peace.”
For other residents, the trauma lingers. Christophe Magis, who has been flooded three times since buying his home in 2005, still keeps a mark on his wall showing the water level from July 14, 2021. “The ground floor was completely devastated,” he recalled. “As soon as it rains a little too hard and the water starts to rise here, my wife can’t sleep anymore.”
A Regional Commitment of Over 453 Million Euros
The Dolhain project is not an isolated experiment. The Walloon Government has committed over 453 million euros to reconstruction and adaptation of valleys affected by the 2021 floods, with a specific action plan for 2025-2029. As Vedia reported, eight major construction sites are planned across the Vesdre valley, including in Theux, Pepinster, Chaudfontaine, Limbourg, Eupen, Trooz, Verviers, and Liège.
Alongside the flood adaptation work, the “Respire” urban renewal project is revitalizing Dolhain’s center. Walloon Minister of Territory François Desquesnes gave final approval for the 1.45 million euro public works contract in December 2025, as DH/Les Sports+ reported. The project includes demolition of the former Polyform textile factory, construction of approximately 60 new housing units, and creation of a new public square.
Climate Reality: More Frequent Extreme Events
The urgency behind these investments is underscored by climate projections. Xavier Fettweis, climatologist at the University of Liège, warned: “In Belgium, all engineering structures, storm basins, and sewers are designed to handle precipitation with a 20-year return frequency. In a +3C world, these precipitations will have a 2-year return frequency!” He added that once-in-a-century floods could recur every 10 to 20 years.
Sébastien Galliez, Director of SPW Cours d’eau non navigables, offered a candid assessment of the project’s limits: “It would be utopian to say we will protect citizens against an event like 2021. However, we will limit the effects of a number of much larger floods.”
A Model for Climate Adaptation
As climate change accelerates the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, the Dolhain approach — giving rivers space rather than constraining them — is likely to become increasingly necessary across Belgium and beyond. The project represents one of the first large-scale implementations of nature-based flood management in Belgium and could serve as a model for other vulnerable river valleys across Europe.
With the new Ruyff channel now visible and the old streambed dried up to allow works to continue, Dolhain offers a tangible example of what climate adaptation looks like on the ground: difficult, expensive, and disruptive — but ultimately essential for building resilience against an uncertain future.