Why the Netherlands is Especially Vulnerable to Sea-Level Rise

02/11/24

“Why is the Netherlands especially vulnerable to sea-level rise?”

The Netherlands is a very particular country. Four Major European rivers drain out to the ocean in the country. Over centuries, the Dutch have also reclaimed land, sectioning off coastal areas with dikes and draining the water with windmills to form polders. 17% of the country’s land is polder territory! These factors have made the country’s land flat and 27% below sea level. This is Why the Netherlands is Especially Vulnerable to Sea-Level Rise.