Understanding the transition to integrated flood risk management in the Netherlands

The multi-pattern approach (MPA) is a new method that has been applied to understand the transition to integrated flood risk management (IFRM) in the Netherlands. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the outcomes of the 2.3 billion Euro flood safety programme Room for the River (RftR). 2 years of research, 55 interviews, a survey of 155 respondents and elaborate document analysis, provided in-depth evidence of how the transition occurred in practice. Experiments were scaled-up, IFRM was consolidated in national policies, and the implementation of RftR further adapted the functioning of the societal system. Lessons are drawn that enrich the MPA framework and that can help its further development and application. The MPA provides scientists with a method to analyse transition dynamics as a chain of patterns that occur under certain conditions. Policy makers can shape and monitor the outcomes that are to be generated to support a transition. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.