Call for papers: Special Issue Blue Papers: Netherlands
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. 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 particular Dutch cultural and natural heritage sites.
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 issue 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/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, Asia (in particular Indonesia) [Jakarta?] the Dutch often copy pasted solutions without consideration for the local context)? 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/inclusive approaches/participation. 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.
Submission deadline: 1st October, 2025.
Peer review response: 1st December
Final paper: 1st February 2026
