Governing Extreme Rainfall Interorganisational Coordination in the 2021 Limburg Floods

Jonker, Esther (2026) Governing Extreme Rainfall Interorganisational Coordination in the 2021 Limburg Floods. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).

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Abstract

This research examines how crisis operators experienced interorganisational coordination during the response and recovery to the 2021 Limburg floods and what lessons emerged for climate-adaptive flood risk management in the Netherlands. Triggered by climate-induced extreme rainfall, the floods served as a stress test for the multi-layered and interdependent system operating under uncertainty. Drawing on theories of adaptive governance, interorganisational coordination and institutional learning, this study adopts a qualitative case study approach based on five semi-structured interviews with crisis operators and an analysis of post-crisis evaluation reports. The findings show that interorganisational coordination functioned as both a facilitator and a barrier. Pre-existing relationships, trust and hybrid coordination mechanisms supported a rapid, flexible response to uncertainty. At the same time, this led to fragmentation and inefficiencies in roles and responsibilities. Communication overload and inconsistencies further hindered effective coordination, particularly during the acute crisis phase. Recovery processes began before formal crisis resolution and acted as a critical bridge toward institutional learning. Learning outcomes were predominantly characterised by single-loop learning, reflected in operational and institutional improvements such as a need for a central coordination layer, standardised information sharing, intensified joint training and clearer role definitions. While elements of double-loop learning emerged through a shift towards preparedness, recovery and societal resilience, these did not translate into structural change. The findings suggest that, despite growing attention to climate-adaptive flood risk management, the Dutch system following the 2021 Limburg floods demonstrates limited transformative capacity under increasing climate uncertainty. Keywords: Limburg floods, Flood risk management, Interorganisational coordination, Institutional learning, Climate change adaptation

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Name supervisor:	Giardini, F.
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2026 11:51
Last Modified:	10 Jun 2026 11:51
URI:	https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/826

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