Netherlands declares water shortage as European rivers shrink under heatwave

The Dutch government officially raised its drought response to Level 2 on July 13, announcing an actual water shortage after weeks of persistent heat and little rain. Authorities will prioritize flood‑defence and power‑generation needs, give priority to drinking‑water supply, and may limit groundwater pumping and lock operations to curb saltwater intrusion. Drinking‑water safety is not threatened, but the public is urged to use water responsibly.

Low river levels are affecting the Rhine, Meuse, Danube, Main and other major waterways across Europe. In Hungary, cruise ships are stranded in Budapest and the southern port of Mohács, while operators such as Avalon and Scenic have cancelled or rerouted itineraries on the Rhine and Danube. Budapest recorded a Danube level only eight centimetres above the historic low of 2018. Similar constraints have halted local boat services and hydrofoil tours.

Switzerland reports its lowest lake and river reservoir levels in two decades, and seven Greek Aegean islands have declared drought emergencies, relying on bottled water. Norway’s water‑management agency warns of very low groundwater and river flows in southern regions, urging water‑works and bore‑hole owners to prepare conservation measures. Scientists link the widespread drying to the accelerated warming of Europe’s climate.