Much has happened across Blue Deal Indonesia’s projects in the past quarter, with a strong focus on flood resilience through working visits in both Indonesia and the Netherlands.
Tangerang: an early warning systems workshop
During a working visit to Tangerang, the Blue Deal team organised a follow-up workshop on early warning systems, building on the previous session in November 2025. This topic is highly relevant, as rapid urbanisation, limited drainage capacity and increasing rainfall intensity contribute to frequent flooding and other water-related risks. Strengthening early warning systems is therefore essential to better anticipate and respond to these hazards, and to reduce impacts on communities and infrastructure.
Participants worked in groups to discuss their roles, responsibilities and needs in both preparation and emergency phases. The sessions highlighted gaps in coordination, communication and data sharing, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen collaboration between institutions.
The workshop showed that effective early warning systems require not only technical solutions, but also clear agreements, timely information exchange and well-defined responsibilities. It provided concrete next steps towards a more coordinated approach in the region.
Video: Tangerang workshop on Early Warning Systems
Education Program (social inclusion)
During the school visit to SMA Negeri 3 Pasar Kemis, located next to Situ Gelam (a small lake), the Blue Deal team gained insight into how flooding disrupts daily life and education. Each year, during the rainy season (between December and February), the school is flooded multiple times when the situ overflows. This results in temporary school closures, sometimes up to a week, preventing students from attending classes. This highlights not only the physical impact of flooding, but also its social consequences, particularly for equal access to education.
An interactive session introduced students to the Dutch approach to living with water and the collaborative approach within the Blue Deal programme. Practical solutions, such as mobile flood barriers, were presented, to demonstrate how different measures can help reduce flood risks and protect communities.
A game on flood dilemmas encouraged students to explore the different perspectives and interests that come into play when making decisions about flood risk management. This highlighted that water management is not only a technical issue, but also a social one – where choices impact different groups in different ways.
The session contributed to greater awareness of social inclusion in water management. Students were encouraged to think about who is most affected by flooding – such as children, families with fewer resources, and nearby communities – and how solutions can be designed to be fair and inclusive. The visit showed that involving young people in these discussions is key to building a more resilient and socially inclusive future.
School visit and session on flood resilience
Field visits: reservoirs, irrigation and drought resilience
In April 2026, the Blue Deal team visited Trimulyo, an area heavily affected by flooding, land subsidence, and coastal challenges. The purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of the local situation and to explore potential solutions to improve the area’s resilience and livability. Together with local partners, they assessed current conditions and discussed daily challenges with local stakeholders, gaining an understanding of the impact of flooding and land subsidence on housing, infrastructure, and the communities.
The visit provided valuable insights into potential measures and interventions, such as improving water management, strengthening coastal protection, and identifying sustainable solutions that fit the local context. The visit marks an important step toward developing an integrated and future-proof approach for this vulnerable area. The insights gained in Trimulyo underscored the importance of combining technical solutions with a strong understanding of the social and spatial context.
A pilot project will be developed with stakeholders to explore integrated and sustainable approaches for the area.
Tangerang: a water retention basin
In Tangerang, a retention basin is currently being developed to help address flooding challenges in the region. A retention basin temporarily stores excess rainwater and river water during periods of heavy rainfall, reducing pressure on the drainage system and lowering the risk of flooding in surrounding neighbourhoods. Once completed, the project is expected to help at least 1000 residents experience less flooding and water-related disruption.
A field visit to the water basin
Our Blue Deal colleagues visited the site to exchange knowledge about the design, implementation, and challenges of this project. Field visits like these create valuable opportunities to share experiences and strengthen cooperation on climate adaptation and urban water management.
Indonesian delegation visit to the Netherlands
In June, a delegation from Indonesia visited the Netherlands for a week-long programme focused on knowledge exchange and strengthening collaboration within the Blue Deal. The visit combined strategic discussions with field visits, showcasing the Dutch approach to integrated and multi-layer flood risk management.
The programme started in Delft, followed by a visit to the Delfland Water Authority, where the Dutch approach to flood risk management was introduced and compared with the Indonesian context. Workshops throughout the week helped evaluate ongoing projects and define priorities for the next programme phase (2027–2030), while also building on insights gained during earlier IWRM training in Bandung.
Midweek, the delegation travelled to Alkmaar, where they were welcomed by representatives of Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (HHNK). Sessions focused on governance and flood crisis management, complemented by a knowledge exchange on crisis response approaches in Indonesia. Field visits included a wastewater treatment plant in Heiloo, a pumping station, and demonstrations of innovative monitoring techniques such as drones, LiDAR and machine learning.
Further excursions highlighted Dutch water infrastructure in practice, including the Markermeerdijken dike reinforcement project, the pumping station Westerkogge, and coastal locations in Volendam, Hoorn and Egmond aan Zee. These visits illustrated approaches to coastal protection, nature-based solutions and long-term maintenance.
Overall, the programme provided practical insights into Dutch water management while strengthening partnerships and laying a solid foundation for the next phase of collaboration.