From installing special window shutters and flood-protection valves to choosing floors that can take a splash: there are many things homeowners can do to prevent damage when the water comes. But in the Netherlands, most people are unaware and unprepared when it comes to flood risks. A team of TU Delft and Erasmus researchers aims to change that by developing a water label for Rotterdam homes. ''This isn’t about scaring people, it’s about empowering them.''
How flood-proof is your home? If you’re living in Rotterdam, that question probably doesn’t come up much. But it’s a question that’s becoming more and more urgent, as climate change is making floods more likely in climate-vulnerable areas such as the Dutch delta.
''The Netherlands is one of the best-protected countries in the world when it comes to flood risk. Our high safety standards are unmet, thanks to centuries of innovative water management,'' says economist Tatiana Filatova, who is a Professor of Computational Economics at TU Delft and previously worked as a water economist at Deltares. ''However, climate change is pushing us into a new reality, which our civilization never experienced.''
To help homeowners—and homebuyers—adapt to this new climate reality, Filatova teamed up with behavioral scientist Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Erasmus University, and a large team of other TU Delft and Erasmus researchers and societal partners. Their mission: creating a tool that not only assesses flood risks, but also helps homeowners take action before damage occurs.
Working on a water label
''We’re working on a water label that empowers people, without creating fear or panic on the housing market,'' says Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb. ''That requires an interdisciplinary approach. We have engineers working on assessing the physical risks, while economists are modeling how changing risks affect housing prices and how private adaptations could reduce damages. At the same time, behavioral scientists are focusing on how people perceive and respond to climate risks and interventions.''
As the multi-year research project kicked off, we sat down with Tatiana Filatova and Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb to talk about the introduction of a water label, and how it could help both homeowners and homebuyers in areas that are exposed to flood risks.
Let’s start with a question that is probably on the minds of many of our readers: how real is the threat of flooding in the Netherlands?
Tatiana Filatova: ''A significant portion of the Netherlands is flood-prone. In many areas, the probability of flooding is low—but not everywhere. There are regions outside the dike-protected zones and areas with lower levels of protection. There are also plenty of homes whose basements flood after heavy rainfall. Owners of these homes might face unexpected costs, and will face a challenge: how do we adapt? The climate is changing so drastically that the superb technical solutions we’ve relied on for centuries no longer guarantee the nearly 100% safety people are used to.''
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''What’s interesting is that our perception of flood risk is very much shaped by our history and our geography. It’s true that the Netherlands is very well-protected against coastal floodings. But the rising sea level isn’t the only threat. In fact, the bigger risk right now comes from heavy rainfall.''
''Ultimately, we will need to become more proactive and think about how to reduce the damage in case a climate-induced hazard occurs''
Tatiana Filatova
Tatiana Filatova: ''Understanding these perceptions is key. People interpret risks in different ways, and social norms play a big part in that. In the Netherlands, the prevailing social norm is that flood risk is not a problem anymore. But that’s not what the science says. Even in 2024, many people experienced flooded basements due to heavy rainfall. While not catastrophic, these damages were felt. Ultimately, we will need to become more proactive and think about how to reduce the damage in case a climate-induced hazard occurs.''
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''Yes, and that requires more than just giving people information about the flood risks they’re exposed to. We need to make sure the information is actionable. There’s a psychological phenomenon called ''earned helplessness,'' where people don’t understand what they can do about a situation and feel powerless. So, while we want to communicate the risk, we also need to empower people by showing them how they can take action to mitigate that risk.''
Is that where the water label comes in?
Tatiana Filatova: ''Right. Climate risks are increasing, and our past experiences are not a good reflection of future risks. A water label can give people a way to navigate this uncharted territory. For example, in the Netherlands, a million new homes will be built by 2030, and 80% of them are planned in climate-sensitive areas. What does this mean for the people who are going to live there? As a homebuyer, you’d want to understand what you’re getting into. This is where the water label can be really helpful. It’s meant to help both current homeowners and potential buyers understand their risk and what actions they can take
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''The water label we’re designing is more than just an information tool—it's a behavioral intervention that will help people make better choices.''
If you own a home that is vulnerable to flooding, what actions could you take?
Tatiana Filatova: ''There are several practical measures that homeowners can take. For example, you can install anti-backflow pipe valves to stop water from coming back into your home through the sewage system when your street is flooded. You can also flood-proof your basement with specific materials to prevent damage, even if neighboring homes are affected. Other practical measures include installing special window and door shutters to keep water out. Homeowners can also choose materials that are more flood-resistant, like tiles instead of expensive wood or parquet flooring.''
''For instance, removing pavement in your backyard or working with neighbors to create green spaces on your street can help absorb water and reduce flooding for everyone''
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''Beyond individual measures, homeowners can contribute to neighborhood-level protection. For instance, removing pavement in your backyard or working with neighbors to create green spaces on your street can help absorb water and reduce flooding for everyone.''
Tatiana Filatova: ''There are also more drastic measures, like elevating homes, but that’s not practical for existing homes in the Netherlands due to the way homes are built. However, measures like improving drainage systems and designing new homes that can withstand rainfall are viable.
It’s about thinking ahead: where is the electricity in your home? If floodwater comes in, you want to protect electrical systems by placing them higher up. Some of these measures can be expensive, but they can still be done to reduce losses should the water come. Ultimately, it’s about being proactive and thinking about how to reduce the damage in case of flooding, especially when losses aren’t covered by insurance or the government.''
Speaking of the government: isn’t flood protection a government task? Should we be looking at individual homeowners for climate adaptation measures?
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''That’s a tough question, and it ties into a broader issue—how much should individual responsibility weigh against collective responsibility? I don't think you can separate the two. There’s a bidirectional influence: if you feel responsible for your own home, you might also feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to the environment you live in. Another point is the current lack of trust in government when it comes to climate issues. This could explain why there’s a growing emphasis on individual action.''
Tatiana Filatova: ''I’ll add something from an economic perspective. Scientists have been studying climate adaptation for decades, and as far back as the early 2000s, it was clear that we cannot rely solely on government efforts. For example, there’s a phenomenon known as the “safe development paradox,'' or the “levee effect,'' which happens when the government builds infrastructure like dikes to protect an area. People then flock to that protected area, investing more capital, which paradoxically increases the actual risk—because more people and more wealth are now exposed to potential flooding.
What the government can control is the probability of flooding, but the actual risk is a combination of probability, potential consequences, and vulnerability. The more you protect an area, the more people and investments are drawn to it, and the greater the overall risk becomes. It creates a cycle—more protection leads to more exposure. Eventually, governments can’t afford to handle it all by themselves.''
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''Exactly, and another issue is how people respond to government action. If we see the government taking protective measures, we tend to relax and shift the responsibility onto them. But the reality is that even the best-protected countries in the world can’t guarantee that flooding won’t cause damage.''
If a water label is introduced, is there a risk that it will make the already stressed housing market even more challenging to navigate?
Tatiana Filatova: ''If a water label is rushed or miscommunicated, it can create panic and confusion. We don’t want that. That’s why it’s important that we co-design the water label with relevant societal partners and stakeholders. This is an applied, policy-relevant project. It’s not just about providing scientific information—we also need to understand the context in which different actors, like banks, real estate managers and government agencies, operate.
For me, this project is about finding effective ways to communicate risks without causing panic—empowering people to take action rather than scaring them.''
What about equity? It’s easy to imagine how a water label could increase existing housing inequalities.
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''That’s an important issue we’re considering. Especially for vulnerable groups, it’s key that people have access to the right information. That’s why we have to make climate risk information accessible and understandable for everyone.
One way we’re doing this is by focusing on expected damage rather than flooding probabilities. Numbers like probabilities can be hard for people to grasp, especially when dealing with small likelihoods. Instead, we want to give people a concrete sense of the financial damage they might face. People can compare these numbers to their monthly income, annual earnings or savings, so that the information becomes relatable.
''We found that wealthy people usually move out of risk-prone areas after a flood, whereas lower-income individuals are stuck. This amplifies inequalities''
Tatiana Filatova
We also want to make the water label interactive, so that people can virtually test different adaptation measures, see their costs, and understand how those measures can reduce their risk—almost like a game where people can experiment with solutions and see how it impacts their risk.''
Tatiana Filatova: ''We’ve seen that irrespective of income, individuals often misperceive risks. This lack of awareness can lead to situations where people overbid for homes that are actually much riskier than they realize, which can result in higher mortgages than necessary. In our simulations, we found that wealthy people usually move out of risk-prone areas after a flood, whereas lower-income individuals are stuck, unable to sell because their mortgage debt is higher than a new market price for their home. This amplifies inequalities, as those least able to bear the risk are the ones most affected.
The water label could help prevent this by providing clearer information so that, for instance, people don’t overpay for homes. However, some of the more systemic inequalities need government intervention, especially in the case of those who are stuck in at-risk areas.''
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''Exactly. The label could help individuals, but we also need broader societal solutions to address issues like climate gentrification—where wealthier, higher-educated people are able to adapt, while lower-income individuals are left behind.''
Before we wrap up our conversation: how did a behavioral scientist from Erasmus University and an economics professor from TU Delft end up designing a water label together?
Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb: ''Actually, it all started at Resilient Delta’s ''Working Towards NLAAA'' expert meeting in Dordrecht last year, where we met the key societal partners who are now involved in the project. It’s great that we’re able to work together on this. We all have very different backgrounds, but we share the same goal. We want to help vulnerable populations and make a real-world impact—the ultimate aim is to jointly generate insights that can inform climate adaptation policies worldwide.''
Tatiana Filatova: ''I’m glad we found each other. Collaborating across disciplines is tough because it requires stepping out of your comfort zone and acknowledging gaps in your knowledge, but it’s incredibly rewarding. The Resilient Delta initiative made all of this possible—not just by funding the project, but also by bringing us together and enabling us to connect with societal actors. That’s something really special about this project.''
The multi-year Water Labels project officially kicked off in November 2024. The core research team is formed by Antonia Krefeld-Schwalb, Tatiana Filatova, Sebastian Gabel, Cees Oerlemans, Robin Nicolai & Bram van den Bergh. They work closely with partners from the public sector and the private sector. The project is one of several projects under the banner of the Resilient Delta initiative’s climate adaptation finance theme, led by Zac Taylor.
- More information
Are you looking for more information? Send an e-mail to Laura van Gelder, Senior Science Communicator for Resilient Delta, at laura.vangelder@eur.nl.
- Related content
