EIB and NWB Bank sign EUR 400 million agreement to boost Dutch flood protection and surface water quality
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Dutch publish sector bank Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB Bank) have signed an agreement to make EUR 400 million available to on-lend to Dutch water authorities. The financing will support small-scale projects related to flood protection and wastewater infrastructure, as well as water level management.
The funds are expected to strengthen the country’s resilience against high water levels, foster biodiversity and improve the quality of local surface waters. The projects receiving funding will feed into the Dutch Delta Plan for Biodiversity Restoration.
Finance for Dutch water-related improvements
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB Bank) have signed a EUR 200 million loan agreement to improve flood protection and water quality in the Netherlands. Under its mandate, the EIB can lend up to 50% of the total amount to any single project, with NWB Bank providing the other half. This means that a total of EUR 400 million will be made available for local investment schemes by Dutch water authorities.
NWB Bank will channel the financing to Dutch water authorities to finance small-scale projects primarily focusing on flood protection, wastewater treatment and water level management, for example via improvements to locks and sluices. Under the agreement, the EIB and NWB Bank have agreed on an option to increase the loan size to EUR 400 million, potentially resulting in available funds of EUR 800 million.
CEO of NWB Bank Lidwin van Velden said: “The Dutch water authorities set the tone when it comes to climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as biodiversity. They are also frontrunners in limiting their own energy use and producing it sustainably. By providing financing under attractive conditions, we bring the sustainability goals one step closer.”
Advancing urban resilience & biodiversity restoration
The projects are expected to better protect the Netherlands from high water, but also to improve preparedness for the adverse effects of climate change, such as more frequent and prolonged droughts, because water levels can be managed more effectively. Furthermore, improvements to local wastewater treatment are expected to have benefits for public health. The planned interventions will also contribute to local employment during their construction or implementation period.
“Water management is crucial for the Netherlands in overcoming the challenges of climate change.” said EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot. “As Europe’s climate bank, partnering with the NWB who expertly serves Dutch water authorities is a natural step for the EIB in the field of climate adaptation.”
The projects to be implemented by local water authorities will feed into the Dutch Delta Plan for Biodiversity Restoration, which aims to strengthen biodiversity in the Netherlands by providing good conditions for flora and fauna living in and around the water, as well as high water quality for agriculture, (sport) fishing, recreational boating and swimming. Examples include the creation of nature-friendly banks, the re-meandering of watercourses, the restoration of streams, the construction of fish passages and the ecological implementation of maintenance measures.
