Advancing Thai-Dutch cooperation through integrated water management

A broad-based, high-level Thai delegation visited the Netherlands for a five-day Knowledge Week under the Partners for International Business (PIB) – Greater Bangkok programme. In collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and in co-creation with Partners for Water and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Watermanagement, the exchange brought together senior government representatives, academic institutions and international partners to explore integrated water management in practice and strengthen long-term Thai-Dutch cooperation.

Water challenges in a complex delta context

Thailand’s water challenges are shaped by geographic vulnerability, urbanisation, climate impact and a complex institutional landscape. At that same time, responsibilities remain divided across multiple agencies and governance levels, while ageing infrastructure puts pressure on maintenance and long-term planning. This has often resulted in stand-alone, short-term projects, where infrastructure is designed to address immediate problems rather than deliver broader social, ecological and economic value. Recent basin-wide initiatives and urban resilience programmes, however, signal a gradual shift towards more coordinated and future-oriented water management in Thailand.

A long-standing Thai–Dutch water partnership

The recently held Knowledge Week builds on more than a decade of structured cooperation between Thailand and the Netherlands in the water sector. Following the 2011 floods in Thailand, Dutch experts contributed to post-flood assessments and strategic reviews. This laid the foundation for deeper collaboration. Since then, the partnership has evolved through policy dialogue, a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021 and joint initiatives such as the Water as Leverage programme.

The current exchange takes place within the Partners for International Business (PIB) – Greater Bangkok programme, which connects Dutch expertise with Thai ambitions for climate-resilient and water-secure development. Rather than a standalone meeting, the Knowledge Week forms part of a broader trajectory aimed at strengthening integrated water management through sustained cooperation at policy and operational levels.

From silos to systems

A central theme of the exchange was the shift from isolated, project-based solutions towards a more systematic approach. Dutch experience shows how water management can be embedded in integral planning that connects infrastructure to wider societal objectives such as liveability, biodiversity and climate resilience.

For Mrs. Patcharawee Suwannik, Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), the meeting underscored the importance of this integrated perspective. “Addressing our climate and water challenges requires an integrated and adaptive approach. This visit and related activities have provided an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of climate resilience and adaptive water management.”

Delegate member Professor Dr. Witaya Wannasuphoprasit from Chulalongkorn University highlighted that effective water management must address the entire system: “We need to reinforce the core – restoring forests and catchment areas upstream, managing peak flows midstream and strengthening resilience downstream in response to sea-level rise and sedimentation.”

Water management in practice

Over five days, the Knowledge Week combined seminars, workshops and site visits. From innovative urban water solutions in Rotterdam and a cruise through Amsterdam’s historic canals to visits to the iconic Maeslantkering and the windswept Sand Motor, the programme provided a broad perspective on Dutch water management. The exchange covered themes ranging from river basin strategies and flood protection to smart agriculture, urban resilience and financing frameworks. It demonstrated how technical solutions are connected to long-term spatial development.

In Thailand, long-term climate adaptation and integrated water planning are gaining increased attention. “At the national level, the Office of the National Water Resources is implementing the 20-Year Master Plan on Water Resources Management,” shared Mrs. Suwannik, “These challenges cannot be addressed by any country alone. Strong international cooperation is essential for achieving sustainable water management.”

The delegation was particularly impressed by the Dutch system-wide approach to data and coordination. “Water does not recognise administrative boundaries,” noted Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, “so having one command centre that provides the same information to everyone allows local authorities to make decisions more efficiently.”

Flood and salinity control formed another important focus. Managing sea level rise and maintaining sufficient river discharge, while preserving water and ecosystems requires constant trade-offs, an area where Dutch long-term operational and maintenance experience offers valuable lessons. “The challenge of balancing flood protection and salinity control is increasingly relevant for both our countries,” shares Marc Walraven, Senior Advisor Storm Surge Barriers at Rijkswaterstaat, the executive organisation of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, during one of the seminars. “By learning from each other’s experience, we can strengthen our approaches for the future.”

Bangkok faces increasing pressure from rapid growth and increasing extreme rainfall. In Rotterdam and Amsterdam, the delegation saw how water is integrated into urban design rather than treated as a separate technical system. “What impressed us most is how thoughtfully the cities are organised to live with water,” Mrs. Suwannik noted, “The practical integration of water, urban planning and climate resilience has been truly inspiring.”

The Knowledge Week programme also addressed financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships (PPP), water bonds, tokens and insurance, underlining that resilient water systems depend not only on infrastructure, but also on governance, investment and institutional capacity. Dr Royboon Rassameethes, Director General of the Hydro Informatics Institute (HII), rightly noted that a fourth ‘P’ should be added to PPP: the ‘P’ of people. Showing the importance of including community.

Mutual learning

The exchange highlighted opportunities for mutual learning. While the Netherlands is known for long-term spatial planning, the city of Bangkok demonstrates how pragmatic interventions can complement structural strategies.

The Netherlands can learn valuable lessons from Thailand’s experience in water management, particularly from dealing with large-scale challenges in a megacity like Bangkok. Dutch cities are increasingly confronted with so-called “rain bombs” – short, extreme downpours that overwhelm urban drainage systems. Thailand’s experience managing high river discharges during intense rainfall, combined with the added pressure of sea level rise that complicates water discharge into the sea, demonstrates how to cope with water challenges on a much larger magnitude. Adapting to such extremes requires flexibility, integrated planning and strong community resilience — approaches which Dutch cities can benefit from as they prepare for future climate-related water challenges.

“We often think in terms of large-scale projects, but there are many low-hanging fruits,” said Governor Sittipunt. “In Bangkok, we have identified small unused private plots of land – sometimes no bigger than a room – and transformed them into green public spaces by offering tax exemptions for public use.”

Joint lessons for resilient water management

During the concluding fishbowl session, the Thai delegation and Dutch partners reflected on the main insights of the week. A shared understanding emerged that effective water management begins with local knowledge. When communities are actively involved in collecting and interpreting data, ownership and long-term commitment increases. There is no universal blueprint; local context must always guide solutions.

Participants also stressed that data only creates impact when it is understood and translated into actionable insights. Technology and modelling are essential, but they must empower people at the local level to make informed decisions. Communication emerged as a strategic success factor: sustainable change depends on trust, dialogue and a progression from awareness to action.

The discussion further highlighted the importance of combining bottom-up initiatives with top-down frameworks. Collaboration between communities, governments and knowledge institutions enables both relevance and scalability. Nature-based solutions were seen as most effective when linked to socio-economic goals such as food security and biodiversity. Ultimately, a shift from ‘fighting water’ to ‘living with water’ requires long-term vision, adaptive planning and concrete action starting today.

Towards sustained cooperation

Throughout the programme, exchanges moved beyond technical solutions to governance, financing and long-term resilience. It reflected the shared understanding that integrated water management cannot be addressed by a single actor alone.

“This visit has been very helpful. Seeing projects on the ground gives us real insight,” said Governor Sittipunt, “Dutch companies are already supporting Bangkok in addressing our water challenges and we see strong potential to expand that cooperation.”

Moving forward, both countries aim to deepen collaboration through joint projects and capacity-building activities. By combining Dutch expertise with Thailand’s practical experience, cooperation can strengthen resilient water systems in both countries.