Holstebro flood study warns of urban development risks

Researchers from Aalborg University and the Cultural History Museums in Holstebro have documented 64 floods in Holstebro since 1878. The study, published in the journal Water History, highlights how urban development and infrastructure decisions can inadvertently increase flood vulnerability over time.

Holstebro is notable as the only Danish inland city designated as a risk area under the EU Floods Directive. The research, conducted by Professor Bo Poulsen and anthropologist Lotte Isager, suggests that flood risk is not solely a product of extreme weather or climate change, but is shaped by decades of decisions regarding land use, watercourse management, and technical solutions.

The findings warn of 'collective forgetting,' where residents and planners lose historical knowledge of previous flood patterns. This loss of information can lead to errors in modern climate adaptation and infrastructure projects, as cities may build in areas that naturally serve as water paths.