Westhoek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Flanders and France have signed a new agreement clarifying joint measures to combat flooding in the Westhoek region, especially in low-lying De Moeren.
An historical treaty states that the water from De Moeren must return to the sea through Nieuwpoort, however this was not evident during the 2023 Westhoek flooding.
This is now also feasible through Dunkirk under the new accord. In an emergency, the treaty now explicitly outlines who is in charge and how the automatic accords take effect.
The polder region of De Moeren is located partially on French and partially on Flemish soil. Because it is below sea level, the region is especially susceptible to flooding. In 2023, this also became clear.
Significant flooding occurred in the Westhoek as a result of unusually high rainfall and an increase in the flow of rainwater from France.
6,000 hectares of agricultural area flooded, the subsurface got saturated, and numerous watercourses in the IJzer basin overflowed their banks.
The emergency pumping station at the Speievaart in Veurne, which has the capacity to transfer water from the Binnen Moeren to the Nieuwpoort–Dunkirk Canal, was utilized during the floods. During the 2023 floods, Dunkirk’s sliding construction—which permits more outflow to the Canal Exutoire—was also effectively employed.
However, there was no official legal foundation for that at the time. For this reason, the ‘The Nut Treaty’ was signed today in Lille between French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA).
The Franco-Belgian treaty of 1890 and its subsequently approved successor in 1968 are the foundation of the new agreement, which essentially modernizes the previous ones. The protocol outlines who is in charge of what in the event of extremely high water levels, how infrastructure is maintained and controlled, how agreements take effect immediately in case of an emergency, and how all parties concerned can work together more effectively.
Thus, the treaty establishes a strong legal basis for the region’s common, future-focused water management.
How will the new agreement improve flood prevention in Westhoek?
Flood defenses and water level controls are coordinated across the border according to the agreement, which also makes clear who is responsible for what and how shared watercourses like the Yser (IJzer) river are managed.
This lessens the possibility of haphazard activities that could exacerbate floods on both sides.
Addressing water outflow bottlenecks is essential, and France should be urged to expand the capacity of ports like Dunkirk so that floodwaters may more effectively drain into the ocean. In Flanders, where flooding is a major concern, this keeps water from backing up.
In order to improve flood response efficacy and minimize damage, the agreement promotes collaboration in disaster preparedness, including the sharing of resources such as sandbags and pumps as well as the coordination of flood warnings and evacuations.
