Three-quarters of Limburg residents expect more floods in the coming years

Almost three-quarters of the people living in Limburg think that their province will have to deal with water-related issues over the next five years, like floods or downpours. A minority (16 percent) expect that they themselves will experience nuisance, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos among more than a thousand Limburg residents. The survey was carried out as part of the Water Safety and Space Limburg (WRL) program, which was launched to better prepare the province for extreme flooding.

In the South Limburg region of Maastricht-Heuvelland, where floods caused major damage in July 2021, most people (81 percent) believe the province will experience nuisance more frequently.

However, the number of Limburg residents in that region who believe it won’t happen to them is the same as in the rest of the province. Most people who think they won’t be affected cite the location of their home as the reason. More than a quarter say they have personally experienced a nuisance due to flooding.

More than a third of Limburg residents are concerned about flooding in their area. Most of their concerns focus on damage to things like their home. A majority are taking steps to prepare, such as making sure belongings can be quickly moved to safety. About half of those taking precautions say they do so for safety reasons. A small group has made changes to their home to prevent damage.

About half of Limburg residents want help from the government to prepare for flooding. People especially want to know what options are available and often don’t know what actions to take. They also want to be kept informed about how the national government is addressing the issue. The results are part of an annual study into how Limburgers prepare for flooding and what they expect from the government.