Flowing Force, a ‘go with the flo’ design for the Dutch river delta as one dynamic nature area

Flowing Force is a ‘cultural design’ for the Dutch riverdelta. Its aim is to make stakeholders rethink their approach to this area. The project takes the original DNA of the Delta as a starting point for spatial designs. It allows the various river branches to augment their own character by a series of ‘go with the flow’ design solutions. By this it shows that landscape processes can partly do the work for us and create a richer, more robust and more dynamic river landscape.The Dutch Delta plays a major role in our national identity and our economy. We have designed it so that we can live safely, are able to sail our ships through it efficiently, and can cycle along it when we want to. After decades of building, however, we have lost sight of the beautiful nature area that passes straight through our country. Functionality prevails, the recreational value does not fulfill its potential, the natural dynamic is low, and the maintenance-prone waterways are facing more and more challenges due to climate change. Flowing Force therefore proposes to transform the river delta into a more sustainable, self-sufficient system in which all important functions work together. A system that makes use of the natural forces in order to shape the landscape once again. A landscape that is not only safe and economical but also attractive to visit and with a richer biodiversity. Flowing Force demonstrates how the vision for dynamic rivers can be rendered in practice on three locations.