Flanders Wetland Plan Soaks 2B Liters into Soil Yearly
As Flanders grapples with code orange drought conditions and the declaration of “effective water scarcity” by the Drought Commission, conservation organization Natuurpunt has announced a significant milestone: its Wetland Plan is now channeling more than 2 billion liters of water into Flemish soil each year — the equivalent of nearly 1,000 Olympic swimming pools. The achievement comes at a critical moment, with farmers in Antwerp province facing pumping restrictions and groundwater levels at historic lows.
A Nature-Based Solution to Drought
Launched in February 2024 on World Wetland Day, the Wetland Plan aims to restore 1,500 hectares of wetlands across 18 nature reserves in all five Flemish provinces. After just two years, 300 hectares have been fully restored, and permits are in place for nearly 1,000 additional hectares to be tackled in the coming year, according to VRT NWS.
“Natuurpunt has succeeded in letting the amount of water from nearly 1,000 Olympic swimming pools seep back into the soil annually,” said spokesperson Dirk Vandervelden. “Otherwise that water would flow directly to the sea via our waterways.”
The restoration work — all carried out on land owned by Natuurpunt — involves installing small weirs, filling drainage ditches, restoring ponds, and adjusting water management systems. These measures slow the flow of water through the landscape, allowing it to infiltrate the ground rather than being rapidly channeled toward the North Sea.
Code Orange: A Region Under Pressure
The milestone comes as the Flemish Drought Commission declares code orange, the second-highest level in a three-tier warning system. According to VRT NWS, the designation indicates that water levels in rivers, streams, and groundwater are critically low, with little rain in the forecast. Farmers in Antwerp province have been banned from pumping irrigation water from waterways.
More than 75 percent of Flanders’ historical wetlands have been drained since the 1950s, when post-war agricultural expansion prioritized rapid water removal. The loss has left the region more vulnerable to both flooding and drought — a dual threat that climate change is intensifying.
Beyond Water Storage: Cooling and Biodiversity
The benefits of wetland restoration extend far beyond groundwater recharge. Research from the University of Antwerp shows that restored wetlands can cool their surroundings by up to 5 degrees Celsius, with the cooling effect felt as far as 2 kilometers away — reducing heat stress for residents, agriculture, and wildlife.
Biodiversity is also rebounding. In the Zwarte Beek nature reserve in Limburg, cranes are breeding for the first time in decades. White-tailed eagles have returned to the Blankaart in West Flanders, and storks are nesting again in the Hogedonk in Aalst, drawn by the restored wet meadows that provide abundant food.
Public-Private Partnerships Drive Progress
The Wetland Plan is funded through a mix of European subsidies (LIFE Wetlands4Cities, Interreg Blue Transition), Flemish government programs including the Blue Deal, Natuurpunt’s own investment of 4.5 million euros, and contributions from water-dependent corporations such as AB InBev, Coca-Cola, Google, and Cummins. The total budget is estimated at 30 to 50 million euros.
Hydrologist Patrick Willems of KU Leuven defended the corporate partnerships, telling VRT NWS that “we won’t manage with government funds alone.” He noted that companies dependent on water have a natural incentive to invest in its preservation, while also benefiting from the reputational value. Willems also pointed to a future role for the insurance sector, which currently pays out millions in flood and drought damage claims annually.
What’s Next: Scaling Up
While the 2 billion liter milestone is significant, it represents only a fraction of what is possible. Natuurpunt estimates that 147,000 hectares of Flanders could potentially be restored as wetlands, though Willems considers 20,000 to 50,000 hectares a more realistic target. The organization is already developing a Wetland Plan 2.0 to expand its efforts.
“This is an important action to arm Flanders simultaneously against floods and against drought,” Willems said. As climate projections point toward more frequent and severe dry spells, nature-based solutions like the Wetland Plan are gaining recognition as cost-effective, multi-benefit approaches to water security. The question now is whether the pace of restoration can keep up with the accelerating impacts of a warming climate.
Reporting based on VRT NWS and Natuurpunt sources.