To understand the shifts in water stakeholders, it helps to map them. Here is an example of all stakeholders involved in water and heritage in the Netherlands. First, we identified the relevant stakeholders. We charted their interrelations so we could give them their right place in the network map.

While this map is not geographically perfect (just like a metro map) it does show how the network is dispersed over the country. We see a concentration of water decision makers around the capital (which lies below sea level), but also stakeholders in the higher and drier areas of the Netherlands.

Whether you use fancy software or just pen and paper, mapping allows you to analyze and illustrate the interconnectedness of all stakeholders in the water system.