Water Stories

Nevertheless, a different image often prevails in Dutch folk tales and myths. From stories about floods to struggles against the sea, water often plays a role as a threat, and as a thing to be avoided or overcome.

Stories give meaning and meaning influences behaviour. In times of water shortages, floods and water pollution, it is important to look at water differently: less as something to be managed, and more as something with which we have a connection.

And so we are looking for stories that show those connections. The aim of our project is to use these stories to create a new water narrative where the human-water relationship plays a central role. With the Waterside Stories phone, inspired by the old Dutch roadside emergency phone, we are inviting people to share their experiences, feelings or imagination.

The Water Stories phone

Back in the day, there were yellow emergency phones on Dutch motorways. With the advent of mobile phones, they became obsolete and they were all removed in 2017 after sixty years of faithful service. Our colleagues at the KWR workshop have given an authentic roadside emergency phone a new life! In new, bright blue, colours, it is now home to Water Stories.

The Water Stories phone on tour in the Netherlands.

The phone is currently on tour in the Netherlands, visiting places like the Dommel in Den Bosch, the Amstel in Amsterdam or the North Sea on the beach of The Hague. Visitors who find the Waterside Stories phone can listen to an audio clip. Dutch water speaks to you, asking for help. It invites visitors to share an experience or thought in the form of a story. These stories will serve as the input for our research.

Caring for water

In the Netherlands, we often have a reputation as masters of water management. We build dikes, divert rivers and keep our feet dry. This prevailing image is one of control: water as the enemy, as a risk, or something to be consumed. This approach is deeply anchored in our policies, landscape and culture. There is little room for a different perspective: an emotional, cultural or spiritual connection with water. In addition, climate change is putting increasing pressure on our water system: we have dry periods, floods and increasing levels of pollution.

A relationship with water that focuses less on control and more on connections can contribute to more sustainable behaviour and broader support for caring for water* in future-resilient ways. That is why we will be looking for stories that are not about struggle or control but about experiences, emotions and imagination. In this way, we will be creating room for new perspectives and writing a new water story together.

*GRROW dictionary for Dutch water terms (link)  

The Water(h)ear

The Water(h)ear in action

The Water(h)ear in action

De Waterwacht in actie.

This blog was written by Jasmijn Baptist.