CFPs: Future-proof Large Rivers Program in Netherlands

Deadline: 10-Feb-2026

The Dutch Research Council is inviting proposals from researchers as well as public and private parties to form a consortium to develop knowledge to support policy choices for the river system in the Netherlands.

Specifically, the programme calls for research into the possible choices for (spatial) planning of the river system, the effects of these choices and how river functions relate to each other within those choices. It is important to consider the whole system of the river basin, the socio-economic effects of policy choices and the role of waterborne transport.

Goal

The goal of this programme is to provide perspectives for potential policy choices concerning the large Dutch rivers. Research financed by this program should investigate the impact which various policy choices might have and how river functions may play into these choices. As such this programme aims to contribute to possible answers to the question of how the Netherlands can best prepare itself for future challenges concerning river systems.
These challenges concern the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and larger changes in river water levels and quality. In addition, aspects concerning the whole system of the river basin, the socio-economic effects of policy choices and the role of waterborne transport play a significant role.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is the initiator of this call, supported by Rijkswaterstaat.

Funding Information

Within this Call for proposals one project can be funded. A total of € 2.880.000 is available.

Eligibility Criteria

There are four categories of participants within a consortium:
- Main applicant;
- Co-applicant(s);
- Cooperation partner(s);
- Co-funder(s) (optional).
The organisation must:
- be established in the Netherlands;
- be a foundation, association or legal entity governed by public law;
- principally and independently engage in basic research, industrial research or experimental development;
- be able to state that the organisation keeps separate accounts with regard to economic/noneconomic activities and that undertakings with decisive influence on the organisation do not enjoy preferential access to the organisation’s results.

For more information, visit NWO.