Many rivers know a long history of human interventions that aim to increase the contribution of rivers to socio-economic development. Supplying drinking water and fish are among the smaller, and embanking, canalization, and damming are the most invasive rivers interventions.

Creating room for a river intends to create water safety and maintain the contribution of rivers to socio-economic development while, ideally, acknowledging the river’s natural character and needs.

In this module you will study the historical development and consequences of river engineering in low land rivers, focusing on the Dutch Rhine branches. We show how lessons from this history triggered and informed the development of the Room for the River building blocks used in the Dutch Room for the River program. Creating these building blocks is decisive in any Room for the River program.