Most Dutch business parks ill-prepared for flooding, study finds
A new analysis of 3,713 business parks across the Netherlands shows that 70 percent are poorly prepared for water-related risks linked to climate change, with many also vulnerable to extreme heat, NOS reports.
“About one in three Dutch workers is employed at a site like this, totaling millions of people,” Daphne Teeling, program coordinator at Werklandschappen van de Toekomst, told NOS. “During extreme rainfall, one in five buildings could have 15 centimeters of water at the site. I think many entrepreneurs are not aware of this and may not understand what it could mean.”
Teeling emphasized that practical measures can be taken immediately. “In the long term, entrepreneurs will need to unite and collaborate to make their areas climate-adaptive. But you can also start tomorrow: plant a hedge, add trees on your plot, or open the paving. That already makes a big difference against flooding and heat stress.”
The report aligns with earlier warnings from the Dutch Safety Board, which said in January that safety measures lag behind the increasing frequency of extreme rainfall and that the problem is underestimated. Vulnerable sites identified in the analysis contain buildings at risk of damage, which could, in turn, disrupt vital infrastructure during heavy rain.
The report found that impervious surfaces like concrete and paving stones cover 48 percent of the average business park in the Netherlands. This contributes not only to flood risk but also to rising temperatures on hot days.
One in ten business parks can experience temperature increases of more than 10 degrees during a 33-degree day. Parks in Noord-Brabant are most vulnerable, with 16 percent over the threshold. Zeeland is the least affected at 7 percent.
Green infrastructure can reduce flood and heat risks. Only one out of six parks currently boasts sufficient trees, and reports indicate a limited diversity of vegetation. On average, hedges and shrubs cover only 4 percent of a site. IVN Natuureducatie, which supports the initiative, recommends increasing this percentage to 15 percent to improve climate resilience.
