The conscious use of water in landscape, city planning and architecture can make a pleasure from a burden. In the landscape layout rivers again receive forelands meant as nature- and recreation areas. At the same time these areas work as a sponge that can absorb the excess of water during times of too high water. The usage of water in city planning is also based on an intelligent double usage. The polders that were pumped dry in the past by our forefathers, with a lot of effort, are now again introduced in modern living areas.
Space is created for water sports including the Dutch number one national sport, ice-skating.
These water areas are, besides being recreational areas, also part of water purification installations. The houseboat, typical for the Netherlands, appears to be accepted again as a housing type after years of being out of favour. Using water as foundation saves complicated constructions. And accepting water in our direct environment saves dry-pumping energy. In architecture there are also many possibilities for using water.