On 23 January Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Watermanagement Robert Tielman reported to the Dutch national Parliament his ambition on swimming in rivers.
Image © ChatGPT
In his letter the Minister describes that there is a growing use of rivers, that demands are increasingly pluriform and rapidly changing. He mentions extensively Connected River as an international cooperation seeking balance on the water:
“The international cooperation in Connected River shows that all over Europe swimmers demand more space near river cities. Connected River develops knowledge and expertise in creating shared responsibility, effective communication, monitoring and digitalization. In March 2026, the project will organize an international conference at the Dutch Embassy in Paris to share experiences and strengthen cooperation.”
The Minister intends to cooperate with provinces and municipalities to improve accessibility of waterways for swimmers providing a safe environment for all users. Connected River is happy to contribute.
Scaling Smart Solutions in Paris
Following the conference at the Dutch Embassy in Paris, the partners of the Connected River project will gather for a meeting to present digital solutions developed for the six pilot regions. The focus of these solutions is to make waterways safer, more accessible, and more liveable – utilizing tools such as real-time monitoring and improved public access.
From Pilot to Practice
A key highlight will be the "Scaling Challenge," where partners demonstrate how their localized strategies can be adapted to the Seine River. While Le Havre was the initial choice, the meeting moved to Paris to better address complex, river-specific urban challenges. This shift is supported by the City of Paris and HAROPA Port, both eager to collaborate on future-proofing the Seine.
Contact: Noémi Mene, AIVP nmene@aivp.org