Decision aid for tools

The climate scenarios of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute KNMI provide insight into the potential future changes in the climate.

The NAS adaptation tool provides an overview of the consequences of climate change. The tool offers the possibility of viewing the consequences of climate change by trend and by sector.

The Heat Mindmap provides an overview of the issues that are caused by extreme heat in cities. Each issue comes with a fact sheet containing information and an explanation.

The Delta facts provide an overview of knowledge relating to water and the climate. They can be searched by theme: flood risk management, freshwater supply, spatial adaptation, and water quality. Delta facts are available on such topics as the consequences of climate change for nature and the consequences of climate change for agriculture.

Information on the consequences of climate change is also contained in this portal’s knowledge dossier on climate change.

The Climate Impact Atlas presents map information on the consequences of climate change for specific areas. The Map Viewer contains an overview of all the available maps. The map narratives on the website help to gain a better understanding of what is shown on the maps.

The Overstroomik.nl [Can I be flooded?] website shows potential flood depths at the building level. The website also provides information on the impact of flooding.

The Cool Towns Heat Stress Measurement Protocol helps to map heat issues at the street level. The protocol also offers all the information required for measuring the effects of measures.

Do you, as a housing corporation or as a municipality, want to know which houses or neighbourhoods are most vulnerable to heat? The Guidelines for Heat in Existing Houses help you determine where heat will cause the greatest problems. This will make it easier to determine which measures are most appropriate for a particular location.

The interactive Urban Water Quality, Climate and Adaptation knowledge document provides a visual overview of the potential effects of climate change on water quality.

Water management bodies can use the tool featuring limiting values for Urban Water Quality, Climate and Adaptation (SWKA) to gain insight into a water system’s vulnerability to climate change and into the contributing factors.

In the Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation, government authorities have agreed to map the vulnerabilities of their areas by conducting stress tests. The vulnerabilities and ambitions will be discussed with the stakeholders in subsequent risk dialogues.

The Stress Test Guidelines (in Dutch) will be helpful when embarking on stress tests. They contain recommendations and instructions for gaining a proper picture of the vulnerabilities of a particular area. For example, it explains which information can help you to map out the vulnerabilities, and how to deal with uncertainties.

The Risk Dialogue Roadmap (in Dutch) helps you on your way when conducting a risk dialogue. It provides answers to frequently asked questions, along with a wide range of tips, tools, and interesting examples.

The national Benchmark for Green Climate Adaptive Built Environment explains what climate adaptive building and planning entails. The goals, performance requirements, and guidelines contained in the benchmark give government authorities and construction sector parties, such as project developers, something to go on. The benchmark currently covers new construction projects only. It is not statutorily mandated yet, but the national government is already exploring the options for its embedding in law.

Are you specifically looking for standards or guidelines relating to heat? In that case, the Coolkit will be helpful. It has been developed on the basis of the “Heat-resilient Cities” study. The toolkit outlines how heat stress can be reduced via guidelines for distance to cool spots, percentage of shade in pedestrian areas, and percentage of greenery per type of neighbourhood.

The national Benchmark for Green Climate Adaptive Built Environment explains what climate adaptive building and planning entails. The goals, performance requirements, and guidelines contained in the benchmark give government authorities and construction sector parties, such as project developers, something to go on. The benchmark currently covers new construction projects only. It is not statutorily mandated yet, but the national government is already exploring the options for its embedding in law.

The national benchmark does not mandate measures and thus leaves room for regional substantiation. Do you aim to embed climate adaptive and nature inclusive construction in regional or local policy? The Guidelines for Climate Adaptive Construction can be helpful. These guidelines feature actual model regulations regarding heat stress, drought, flood impact reduction, and waterlogging, showing what can be set down in regional or local policy.

The Merging: climate adaptive instruments for construction & development guide presents an overview of the control options for climate-adaptive area development. It supports organisations in assuming the appropriate roles and in using supporting instruments to this end. Furthermore, it contains a range of best practices.

The Policy mixer provides an overview of ways to foster climate adaptation on private premises. The tool also shows how financial incentives can be used to this end.

The publication entitled Models for legal instruments regarding climate adaptation explains how municipalities can set down regulations for water storage by private individuals.

The Framework for embedding climate adaptation on private premises outlines how and when ten instruments can best be employed. The instruments include a building decree, a rainwater decree, a performance agreement, and a collective development ambition.

The Guideline for Integrated Environmental Visions is intended to inspire regional and local authorities when collaborating on an environmental vision. The Guideline presents lessons on participation; on integration and interconnection; on cultural changes; and on digitalisation.

The Guideline for Urban Water Management under the Environment Act sets out how climate adaptive urban water management can be integrated into an environmental vision, environmental programme, and environmental plan.

Climate adaptation is connected with the various roles that groundwater plays in our society. For that reason, proper consideration of groundwater interests in your environmental vision is important. The Groundwater and Spatial Planning tool explains how.

Do you want to know how to incorporate climate adaptation in a tender process and a contract? In a Guideline (in Dutch), Tauw consultants outline three universal control elements: selection criteria, requirements, and allotment criteria.

Do you, as a municipality, need help setting down climate adaptation from a legal perspective and at the administrative level? The Embedding Instruments tool developed by the province of Gelderland will be helpful.

Also of interest: the study report on Climate adaptive tendering in real estate and area developments. The report provides practical tips for municipalities selling land and real estate in tender processes. Helpful, because properly embedding climate adaptation in real estate and area development tender processes remains quite difficult in actual practice.

Are you aiming to design a sustainable and climate-proof city? The Urban Green-blue Grids website can support you in your efforts. It contains a databank of measures that can be implemented in the purview of climate adaptation and of other themes, such as biodiversity, air quality or sustainable energy. Furthermore, the website shares practical experiences regarding measures and presents the latest scientific insights on the effectiveness of measures.

The CoolKit provides information on ways to heat-proof neighbourhoods and streets. The tool offers design guidelines and an overview of the functioning and effectiveness of various measures. The Heat in the Built Environment menu map shows the steps that municipalities can take to heat-proof the built environment. Among other things, the menu map contains an overview of measures relating to the themes of health, buildings, and areas.

The Climate-proof Cities Toolbox shows how effective various measures are in a particular area that is faced with waterlogging, drought or heat. The tool also provides an overview of the benefits and the estimated costs of the measures.

The Book of Showcases “The climate is right up your street” contains ten practical examples of ways to climate-proof residential streets. The focus is on measures aimed at preparing for extreme precipitation. Each example comes with four different designs, along with a cost comparison for each design.

The Climate Adaptation app offers an easy way to find out which adaptation measures are best suited to your tasking and the features of your area.

The WaterWindow website contains practical examples of successful and innovative measures to resolve various water issues.

The Active Groundwater Level Management toolbox can be used to combat groundwater level issues in your municipality. Among other things, the toolbox features an overview of relevant technical requirements and legal aspects.

Are you planning to implement measures to drought-proof public greenery? The Drought and Greenery guidelines can help you. The guidelines come with six discussion maps relating to cauliflower neighbourhoods, older neighbourhoods, and suburban expansion (Vinex) neighbourhoods in both low-lying and elevated parts of the Netherlands.

Is your municipality located in an area affected by soil subsidence, and are there signs of pole rot causing damage to foundations? The Guide to Foundation Issues and the Tackling Foundation Issues Explorer help municipalities to tackle issues at the neighbourhood level, step by step.

Guide Models show how the natural system works in a particular type of landscape and what the main climate effects are. For each type of landscape, potential adaptation measures are listed.

The model book on climate adaptation and the soil-water system is a compilation of inspiring and successful adaptation projects in rural areas. The book shows how the soil-water system can be harnessed to prevent waterlogging and drought at a local or regional level.

The Climate Adaptation app offers an easy way to find out which adaptation measures are best suited to your tasking and the features of your area.

The WaterWindow website contains practical examples of successful and innovative measures to resolve various water issues.

The Manual for Water-friendly Gardens provides information on specific measures to realise a water-friendly and heat-resilient garden. The manual contains 19 tips with detailed explanations for carrying out the measures.

The HuisjeBoompjeBeter website contains tips and actions to render gardens climate-proof and nature-friendly.

The IAmWaterproof tool can be used to get tailormade advice on water-proofing your home and garden, by entering your postal code and information on your home. The advice comes with a cost estimate.

Rooftops offer many options for climate adaptation. Curious about the benefits of a green rooftop? The Multifunctional Roofs Fact Sheet contains a clear overview of all the benefits. The Natural Roofs Manual outlines various types of green rooftops, along with detailed instructions on their construction. Do you want to combine climate adaptation with other rooftop functions? The Multifunctional Roofs knowledge platform is a great source of inspiration.

The Guidelines for Climate-adaptive Construction help municipalities and other local or regional authorities to embed climate-adaptive construction and planning in their policies and plans. The Guidelines contain examples showing the full scope of climate-adaptive construction and planning options within current legislation. The Guidelines for Nature-inclusive Building in the purview of human health comprise a top ten of healthy measures to be implemented during the construction or redevelopment of residential areas.

The two Manuals for sustainable industrial estates outline the measures that can be taken at industrial estates. The one manual pertains to measures at existing buildings and estates, the other deals with measures for new buildings and estates. The manuals also provide information on how and at what stage the measures can best be carried out.

One of the three brochures compiled by the province of Gelderland on How do you green your environment? pertains to industrial estates. It outlines twelve measures intended to green industrial estates, along with an overview of the costs and of the benefits for government authorities and entrepreneurs.

Rooftops at industrial estates offer a range of options for climate adaptation. Curious about the benefits of a green rooftop? The Multifunctional Roofs Fact Sheet provides a clear overview of all the benefits. The Natural Roofs Manual outlines various types of green rooftops, along with detailed instructions on their construction. Do you want to combine climate adaptation with other rooftop functions? The Multifunctional Roofs knowledge platform is a great source of inspiration.

Do you want to pursue a green schoolyard? The Green-blue Schoolyards website offers tips and inspiration. It also features a workbook with a helpful step-by-step plan for anyone intending to create a green schoolyard or green school rooftop.

The Guidelines for Climate-proof Petting Zoos outline, step by step, the measures that you can take to climate proof a petting zoo. It also lists programmes to reach out to both children and adults.

Do you want to know how adaptation measures may affect water quality? Useful information can be found in the section on “Climate adaptation measures” in the interactive knowledge document on Urban Water Quality, Climate and Adaptation.

Do you want to improve the water quality of an urban water system? If you know the causes (control variables) of poor water quality, you can explore the most effective measures. The interactive knowledge document on Urban Water Quality, Climate and Adaptation contains an overview of measures to improve water quality.

The Urban Green-blue Grids website can help you find out more about the effectiveness of measures. It contains summaries and highlights of research in the field of adaptation measures. For each measure, it presents data on its effectiveness.

The Climate-proof Cities Toolbox shows how effective various measures are in a particular area that is faced with waterlogging, drought or heat. The tool also provides an overview of the benefits and the estimated costs of the measures.

The Climate Adaptation and Nature Inclusiveness in the Built-up Environment infographic contains an overview of commonly implemented measures. A cost indication is provided for each measure. In addition, the infographic lists various sources of research into the effectiveness of measures.

The EfFact checker answers various practical questions relating to outdoor heat measures.

The “Effectiveness of measures” table shows the effects of adaptation measures.

The CoolKit provides information on ways to heat-proof neighbourhoods and streets. The tool offers design guidelines and an overview of the effect and effectiveness of various measures.

The Climate Adaptation app offers an easy way to find out which adaptation measures are best suited to your tasking and the features of your area.

The Guidelines for Soil-conscious climate adaptation explain how to retrieve data on the soil and subsoil from the Basic Subsoil Register and how to use such data in climate adaptation efforts. The guidelines provide practical instructions, tips, and examples.

The ParcelTool can be used to calculate the water processing capacity of a plot and the volume of run-off to public areas or the sewer system. The tool also comprises graphs and animations showing the effects of various measures.

RainTools helps to monitor and simulate the effect of rain provisions, both during extreme downpours and during prolonged periods of precipitation. It also enables you to compare and assess the effects of measures.

The Guide to Smart Climate Adaptation Linkage sets out how municipalities can link climate adaptation to three other major taskings: the energy transition, the new construction tasking, and the major repairs and renovation cycle.

The flyer and the magazine on Linkage with the energy transition help you get started with linking climate adaptation in your strategy to the energy transition and vice versa.

The Data Provision on the Energy Transition in the Built Environment tool shows data that is relevant to the energy transition in your municipality. The viewer can be used to identify linkage opportunities in climate adaptation efforts.

The book entitled Reinventing Multifunctionality explains what exactly linkage is and sets out ways to capitalise on linkage opportunities. It presents dozens of examples of linkage opportunities in the fields of climate adaptation, power supply, transport, and many more.

The Linkage Opportunities: Discussion Map is intended to inspire thought about smart uses of public and private space. In addition, it outlines various options for combining investments, thus saving construction and maintenance costs.

The Green Construction Checklist provides tailormade advice for nature-friendly construction. The Guidelines for Nature-inclusive Development contain a step-by-step plan and measures aimed at designing and building for and with nature.

The Climate Damage Atlas provides an expected cost estimate of the damage caused by climate change. The tool estimates the damage that waterlogging, heat, and drought will cause in the Netherlands in the period from 2018 to 2050.

The Climate Damage Monitor shows how much insured damage extreme weather has caused over recent years. The figures mainly pertain to damage to private property, supplemented by commercial damage ensuing from the largest damage events. The Monitor shows the damage caused by hail, storm, precipitation, lightning, flooding, and frost during the years 2007 up to and including 2021.

The Insurability of Climate Risks infographic provides an overview of the damage caused by extreme weather that is, is not or can optionally be covered by insurance.

The Climate-proof Cities Toolbox can be used to explore adaptation measures for your neighbourhood, street, or premises. The tool also provides a cost estimate for the measures.

The Book of Showcases “The climate is right up your street” contains ten practical examples of ways to climate proof residential streets. The focus is on measures aimed at preparing for extreme precipitation. Each example comes with four different designs, along with a cost comparison for each design.

The Climate Adaptation and Nature Inclusiveness in the Built-up Environment infographic contains an overview of commonly implemented measures in the pursuit of climate adaptive and nature-inclusive building. The overview includes an indication of the investment costs and the management costs for each measure. In addition, the infographic lists various sources of research into the cost efficiency of measures.

The Urban Green-blue Grids website provides an indication of the costs entailed in adaptation measures. Furthermore, this knowledge bank contains information on the effectiveness of measures.

The TEEB City tool provides more insight into the value of greenery. The tool calculates various positive effects of green and blue measures in a project.

The Infographic on Funding amasses a substantial proportion of the existing knowledge on the financing of climate adaptation.

The Guide to EU Grants answers more than one hundred questions about European grants in the fields of water and the climate.

The Funding Constructions Toolbox provides an overview of a range of options for garnering financial support. The toolbox is intended for both professionals engaged in urban development and private individuals seeking to climate proof their homes.

The Environment List Online Tool shows which investments in adaptation measures qualify for tax benefits.

The SPONGE2020 Toolbox helps to involve stakeholders in climate adaptation. It contains an overview of key parties and various methods of collaboration.

The Local Heat Plan Manual helps to draw up a heat plan in concert with stakeholders. A local heat plan sets out, inter alia, what exactly the organisations involved need to do during a period of heat.

The Guide to climate adaptation with nature between urban and rural areas helps to map, in concert with other parties involved, the best solution strategies for climate adaptation on the outskirts of cities.

Are you aiming to drought-proof public greenery, in consultation with other departments or parties that are engaged in spatial planning? The Drought and Greenery Guidelines can help you. For example, the guidelines show what stages are most opportune for consulting with other domains. This facilitates the discussions and ensures that the requirements and conditions of the various domains are considered in good time.

The Policy Mixer offers government professionals an overview of ways to promote climate adaptation on private premises. The tool also shows how to harness financial incentives and refers to fact sheets, model texts, and examples.

The Climate Adaptation Behaviour Tool can be used to design climate adaptive policy focused on behaviour. The tool provides practical tips on how to influence the behaviour of residents and businesses through, e.g., financial incentives. It also explains how to measure success in influencing behaviour.

The Overstroomik.nl [Can I be flooded?] website can be used to show local residents or entrepreneurs the potential flood depths at their homes or businesses in a worst case scenario. The website also explains the practical impact of flooding and provides tips on what to do during a flood.

Do you wish to involve local residents or other stakeholders in the pursuit of Active Groundwater Management? The Active Groundwater Level Management Toolbox can be helpful. Among other things, it contains a tutorial, an infographic, and a model FAQ that you can use in the purview of communication and participation.

The Toolkit for Basic Communication on waterlogging, flooding, heat, and drought can be used to encourage local residents to embark on climate adaptation or to raise awareness of the need for climate adaptation.

Would you like tips on how to communicate with local residents on climate adaptation? For example, are you planning to create a local residents page? Or are you looking for tips relating to communication via social media? The Toolkit for Basic Communication on waterlogging, flooding, heat, and drought will be helpful.

Do you want to make local residents aware of the consequences of climate change? The Toolkit for Basic Communication on waterlogging, flooding, heat, and drought will help you on your way.

The Climate Damage Monitor shows how much insured damage extreme weather has caused over recent years. The figures mainly pertain to damage to private property, supplemented by commercial damage ensuing from the largest damage events.

The Basic Green and Grey Map shows the proportion of trees, shrubbery, and paved areas in each neighbourhood. The map was developed in 2021; the intention is to update the map annually. Thus, it may constitute an interesting benchmark for monitoring.

Interested in the effectiveness of measures? Take a look at the Urban Green-blue Grids website. It features a databank of adaptation measures, research results on the effectiveness of measures, and practical examples of actual measures.