Delta Works needed level of flood protection and the resulting costs are a recurring subject of debate, and involve a complicated decision-making process. In 1995 it was agreed in the Delta Plan Large Rivers and Room for the River projects that about 500 kilometres of insufficient dyke revetments were reinforced and replaced along the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde between 1995 and 2015. After 2015, under the High Water Protection Program, additional upgrades are made. In September 2008, the Delta Commission presided by politician Cees Veerman advised in a report that the Netherlands would need a massive new building program to strengthen the country's
Geography of the European Netherlands (Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel) , "below" sea level. "highest point on European mainland:" Vaalserberg above sea level. "highest point (including the Caribbean islands):" Mount Scenery on Saba above sea level. Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land Land use: (2011) "arable land:" 25.08% "permanent crops:" 0.88% "other:" 74.04% Irrigated land (2007): Total renewable water resources (2011): Natural hazards: flooding by sea and rivers is a constant danger. The extensive system of dikes, dams, and sand dunes protect nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded during the heavy autumn storms from the north-west.