Dutch Government prioritises Water Management in Development and Trade Policies

In a recent policy letter to the House of Representatives, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Reinette Klever, outlined plans to reduce development aid by €2.4 billion starting in 2027. Despite these budgetary constraints, future programmes will prioritise initiatives that benefit the Netherlands, enhance earning capacity, and support the business sector. They will also focus on areas where the Netherlands excels, particularly water management, food security, and health. Minister Klever stated, "Our efforts will focus on three Dutch interests: trade and economy, security and stability, and migration." 

Policy dialogues with the Dutch water sector 

On behalf of the broader Dutch water sector (companies, government agencies, knowledge institutions, and NGOs), the Netherlands Water Partnership sent an introductory letter to the members of the newly installed Schoof Cabinet in August 2024. In this letter, NWP urged the government to continue and intensify policies supporting the water sector, stressing its vital importance for the Netherlands' safety, sustainability, and economic growth - both domestically and internationally. The letter also highlighted the significance of water management in foreign policy and extended an invitation to the new minister for further dialogue. 

A meeting with the Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Aid of the Dutch House of Representatives followed in October, where Frank Goossensen (Arcadis), Margreet Zwarteveen (IHE Delft), and Jacob Jan Vreugdenhil (Woord & Daad), delivered compelling pitches focused on economic potential, knowledge exchange, and stability.

Following this, in December 2024, the NWP, alongside Topsector Water & Maritime, engaged in a high-level policy dialogue with Minister Klever. These discussions focused on the role of water management in development aid within the broader context of Dutch foreign policy. The dialogue underscored the sector's commitment to collaborating with the government to achieve national and international water objectives.​

Water Management in Foreign Policy

In her policy letter, Minister Klever links the focus on water management to the consequences of climate change and the economic benefit of the Netherlands. “The Netherlands is a world leader in water management and technology. Think of drinking water, coastal protection, and water purification. As more and more regions worldwide face increasing drought or, conversely, flooding, this presents both a unique opportunity and a responsibility for the Netherlands.”

She further refers to the meeting she held in December with the Netherlands Water Partnership and Topsector Water & Maritime regarding the role of Dutch water management in foreign policy. During this meeting, the sector emphasised that trade promotion should focus on "the knowledge-intensive and innovative expertise of the Netherlands’’, particularly in the water sector. 

In that meeting, the sector presented four key messages to the minister: keep the well-oiled machine running; integrate water into other policy areas; align policies and instruments; and make use of existing networks.

Water diplomacy

Many of these priorities are reflected in Minister Klever’s policy letter. She states that the government will actively promote Dutch water expertise through water diplomacy, trade missions, and the diplomatic network. “We work closely with other ministries in this effort. We also make full use of the knowledge and expertise of Dutch companies and (knowledge) organisations, as well as local knowledge in the countries we collaborate with.”

Minister Klever’s plans also place additional emphasis on attracting private financing. “To create greater impact and enable scaling up, we will align our programming with investments from Dutch and international financial institutions.”

Finally, the Netherlands will focus on enhancing international disaster preparedness. “This includes helping countries implement preventive measures against floods or droughts. The Netherlands has extensive expertise in this field, which can also help prevent migration and instability.”