The following recommendations are part of the overall conclusions and recommendations of the OECD Environmental Performance Review of the Netherlands: • strongly pursue implementation of policies to allocate “more space for water”, establish ecological networks and better protect areas at risk (e.g. from floods); in particular, integrate water management, nature management and spatial planning; • reinforce actions to combat groundwater depletion; complete and implement comprehensive provincial groundwater plans; • further reduce nitrogen loads from intensive agriculture (livestock and crop production) in line with related international commitments (EU Nitrates Directive, North Sea action programme); • strengthen efforts to achieve further progress in dealing with emergency overflows from combined sewers....