Who is responsible for the 2021 floods in Belgium? A Call to Reexamine the Rural-Urban Relationship

63NEW RURALITIES: CONTESTATIONS AND ITERATIONS ON RURAL SPATIALITIES
32nd International Geographical Union-The Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems (IGU-CSRS) Colloquium
University of the Philippines Diliman and University of the Philippines Baguio (2-7 December 2025)
PANEL 1B: Rural Vulnerabilities (10:15 AM to 12:00 NN)
Who is responsible for the 2021 floods in Belgium? A Call to
In July 2021, devastating floods struck Belgium and Germany, causing 39 deaths and
extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in the Vesdre watershed. Such severe
floods are very rare in Belgium, but they could become more frequent. In the
aftermath of the disaster, many sought to identify who was responsible for the
flooding. Two dams were accused of opening their gates, provoking a wave which
suddenly flooded the valley. Some pointed out the lack of maintenance of the rivers
and their tributaries, where beavers have built several dams. The narrowness of the
valley and the construction directly next to the rivers exacerbated the situation,
increasing the exposure of numerous people and the danger of the flood when
materials, such as containers or cars, are turned into projectiles. Climate change and
deficiencies in warning systems were also pointed out. The regional authorities
commissioned a consortium of experts to investigate the causes of the disaster and
how to adapt the Vesdre valley and other valleys in Wallonia. The experts
emphasized the importance of analyzing the issue at the watershed level,
considering land uses on the plateaus and the slopes, when most of the attention
was focused on the valley. They also highlighted various social inequalities among
residents that were neglected. The communication is an invitation to reconsider the
water journey, country planning and the benefits provided by integrated agriculture
and forest practices.