The Netherlands Water Management Authority in the north-east of the country.
The north-east of the Netherlands is characterized by agricultural activity, practiced on sea clay in the coastal areas, and sand in the central areas. The country is low-lying (with 26% of the country below sea level) and remarkably flat, with large expanses of lakes, rivers, and canals. Some 6,500 square km of the Netherlands consist of reclaimed land, the result of a process of careful water management dating back to medieval times. Along the coasts, land was reclaimed from the sea, and the dikes built along the coastline to protect the hinterland using storms resulted in a ‘hard’ transition from sea to land. In the interior, lakes and marshes were drained, especially alongside the rivers
The northern region of The Netherlands has framed itself as ‘energy region’ due to the natural gas fields. The port of Eemshaven, in the east of the region, is increasingly important for transforming energy from windmills at sea and transportation on land. In the higher laying central area, geothermal energy and water buffers are used to support regional energy strategies.
