Call for papers: Special Issue on Netherlands and the Caribbean
We invite contributions for a special issue of Blue Papers focusing on the Netherlands (low and high regions) and the Caribbean.
The Netherlands is globally recognized for its long-standing advanced water governance and innovative nature-based solutions. Historic examples of advanced water management are abundant in the country and the Dutch Caribbean islands. The UNESCO World Heritage properties of Kinderdijk with its world-renowned windmills, the grachten of Amsterdam, the former island of Schokland in a polder claimed from the sea, the Wadden Sea, or Curacao, are indicative of the distinct Dutch cultural and natural heritage.
Contemporary, nature-based solutions for preservation build upon these historic skills. "Room for the River," a project to free up the rivers and provide more space for flooding, the Sand Motor–beach sand replenishment by using natural forces to distribute additional sand–and Marker Wadden–the construction of recreational nature islands with sand, clay and silt in the Markermeer – which combine ecological restoration with flood risk reduction and multi-stakeholder governance.
This special issue of Blue Papers aims to critically examine how both historical and contemporary practices towards water management can inform practical and scalable solutions that address sustainability challenges, including climate change and beyond. We encourage papers exploring historical water heritage but also success stories of good practices that are actively applied today, including governance frameworks that enable coordination among multiple authorities.
Given the colonial history linking the Dutch mainland and Caribbean territories, this issue also seeks critical reflections on the maladaptation risks of transplanting or translating Dutch water management systems without adequate adaptation to local social, environmental, and political realities. How have colonial legacies shaped current water inequalities and vulnerabilities in the Caribbean or Asia (e.g., Jakarta)? What lessons can the mainland and islands learn from each other in co-developing equitable, resilient water governance and infrastructure?
Contributions may include comparative analyses, policy evaluations, and interdisciplinary approaches that integrate heritage, governance, technology, and social justice, and inclusive and participative approaches. We particularly welcome papers that move beyond documenting problems or historical traditional solutions and also propose actionable, context-sensitive solutions for sustainable water futures in both regions.
Timeline:
* Submission deadline: 1st October, 2025
* Peer review response: 1st December, 2025
* Final revised papers due by: 1st February, 2026
! Please submit your contributions via email to Prof Carola Hein ([email protected]) or using the online submission form.
!! For the format of contributions please refer to the template and instructions for Blue Papers. (!Please download the files before filling in!).
