The rivers distribute the water over the low-lying areas of the Netherlands and partly transport it to the North Sea and the IJsselmeer . The IJssel , the Waal , the Nederrijn and the Lek (Rhine Branches) are fed with rain and melt water from the Rhine from the Swiss Alps. The maas flows into our country via France and Belgium and is a rain river. Today, due to climate change, there are more frequent periods of more rain and melt water, causing water levels in the rivers to rise. Since the high water in the 1990s, this has been handled differently; not only are dikes being strengthened and raised, but the rivers are given space again. This approach is clearly visible in the Room for the River and Maaswerken programs.
In 1993 and especially in 1995 , large amounts of rain and melt water caused very high water levels in the Dutch rivers. The dikes were not strong enough in many places, so there was a risk that they would collapse. In 1993 about 8% (18,000 hectares) of the province of Limburg was under water. The undiked villages of Borgharen and Itteren were also flooded. About 12,000 people had to be evacuated. In 1995 these villages were again badly hit. As a precautionary measure, 250,000 people and 1 million animals were evacuated in the Gelderland river area.