Experts from the Netherlands and Tokyo shared insights on sustainable water management

Tokyo and the Netherlands: Two Places with Shared Environmental Goals

Although the Netherlands and Tokyo differ considerably in many aspects – size, population density, geographical features, and climate – their environmental challenges and approaches to water management reveal intriguing similarities. For example, both regions are located downstream of major rivers and are subject to the influence of wastewater discharged from upstream areas. They face common issues including water quality, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable design for urban areas.

These shared concerns have inspired an ongoing dialogue between environmental professionals in Tokyo and the Netherlands. Recognizing the value of cross-border cooperation, we organized an event to bridge ideas and practices. Dr. Stefan Kools and Dr. Miina Yanagihara, two experts with close ties to both the Netherlands and Tokyo, led this exchange to bring together knowledge and experiences to address common environmental goals. The meetings were held at KWR on 5 November and at Waternet on 6 November, with three officials from the Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Exchanging Expertise: Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Water Challenges

During the event, experts from both the Netherlands and Tokyo discussed and shared the unique approaches each country uses to address water management challenges. Experts from Tokyo introduced their own approaches, focusing on water resource management, the water cycle in Tokyo area, and ecosystem and water quality in Tokyo Bay. Dr. Inge van Driezum from KWR gave a presentation on a woodchip bioreactor to remove nitrogen from ditches. This led to a great discussion on possible applications of the bioreactor in urban areas, to remove nutrients in stormwater.

On the following day, we had a meeting with experts from Waternet about integrated work to create a better environment. The topics included the introduction of the organization and Amsterdam area, water system management, the swimmable rivers initiative, aquathermal energy and an integral design method for public space. Cities of Amsterdam and Tokyo have common goals, e.g. seeking measures to minimize impact on ecology, not only within the city limits but also in marine waters downstream of these cities. Finally, we had a tour around Amstelsluizen to learn the case of water management systems in urban areas.

By exploring each region’s approach to environmental issues, the exchange sparked valuable ideas to better design the sustainable water environment. This discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration across disciplines to address many of the challenges linked to the water environment, as well as the need for commitment to assess the results of the development and implementation of integrated strategies.

Inspiring Future Efforts Through Shared Knowledge

Reflecting on this experience, we reaffirmed our commitment to keep learning from each other. Collaboration across different domains, stakeholders, and national borders can be indeed challenging, however, it remains essential to tackling environmental issues on a global scale. This event serves as an inspiring step toward building sustainable, resilient cities, and we hope to continue supporting each other in creating healthier water environments for the future.

Image 1. Lively discussions between experts from the Netherlands and Tokyo Tour at Amstelsluizen with a support by Waternet