How the Netherlands managed to avoid deaths: "Higher standards than neighboring countries"

Following the floods, several researchers have sharply criticized Germany's disaster management.

- So many people should not die in floods in 2021. We have the technology to issue early warnings.

Measures must be taken so that it does not happen again, said hydrology professor Hannah Cloke to SVT last week.

Jeroen Aerts is Head of the Department of Water and Climate Risks at Vrije University in Amsterdam.

He shares the view that the neighboring countries could have handled the disaster better, not least when it comes to long-term planning of buildings.

- Many of these villages are located in places where you should not build, he says.

But there are also other reasons why the Netherlands succeeded so well with its disaster management.

The geographical location, the political system and not least the country's history play a role.

Hear Jeroen Aerts talk in the clip above.