Dutch Housing Trials Rain Fences to Store 2,160 L
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- Woonstichting ’thuis is installing its first rain fence in Veldhoven, using linked plastic blocks between rattan panels to store up to 2,160 L of roof runoff.
- Theo and Willy Bolder say the fence reduces drainage pressure during heavy rain, supplies water for their garden in drought, and has sparked neighbor curiosity about costs.
- Rik Thijs, deputy mayor of Eindhoven, warns the municipal sewage system cannot keep pace with increasing rainfall and urges surface water capture such as rain fences, green roofs, and wadi pools.
- Harry den Hartigh, founder of SunnyRain Solutions, installed the system, citing his Zeeland upbringing and the 1953 North Sea flood as inspiration for attractive, space‑efficient rainwater storage.
- Jannes Willems, assistant professor at University of Amsterdam, calls rainwater harvesting an easy fix for a water system built to discharge quickly and notes its cooling benefit during heatwaves.
- Matthijs Hulsbosch, sustainability manager at Woonstichting ’thuis, says the rain fences protect the complex’s 11,000 homes from water damage, saving money on leak repairs.
Why it matters: Residents like the Bolders gain immediate water security and lower flood risk, while municipalities avoid costly sewer upgrades; the 11,000‑home complex saves on leak repairs, turning a climate‑adaptation measure into tangible economic benefit. The pilot also demonstrates scalable green infrastructure that can be replicated across Dutch neighborhoods, addressing both flood and drought challenges.
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