In the Netherlands we started to live with water more than 1000 years ago. We've built the country from a water democracy, dating back to the 1100s, when we elected our first water regulator. We had water experts before we were a Kingdom, and now we have a King who is a global-respected water leader. And living with water is our culture. The history of the Netherlands is inextricably linked with water. The Netherlands has an international reputation for innovation, integrated and inclusive solutions that protect people and infrastructure from flooding prevent water scarcity and, ensure supplies of clean and safe water.
The Greek geographer Pytheas noted of the Low Countries, as he passed them on his way to Heligoland c. 325 BCE, that "more people died in the struggle against water than in the struggle against men". Roman author Pliny, of the 1st century, wrote something similar in his Natural History:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_...he_Netherlands
Water is not political, never was never will be for the Dutch dredging the waterways is not the solution you have to build dikes higher, but that means they take up so much space you end up living on the dike our water committees plan for 100 years ahead instead of building higher dikes we allow the river periodic to flood of indefensible lands in such regions residents have been removed to higher ground, some of which has been raised above anticipated flood levels.