Limbourg rebuilds five years after flood: 'overfloodable' town hall and climate-proof measures

Five years after the catastrophic floods that ravaged the Vesdre valley, the Belgian municipality of Limbourg is actively rebuilding, transforming the reconstruction into an opportunity to enhance climate resilience.

The town is implementing measures to withstand future climate challenges, including heat and water. The Vesdre riverbanks are being widened, and a tributary has been rerouted to its original course. A new administrative center is being designed to be "overfloodable," meaning it will sustain minimal damage if water enters, with crucial technical equipment located on upper floors. The cultural center has been fortified against water and equipped to efficiently drain and even store floodwaters.

Mayor Valérie Dejardin highlighted the extensive damage, estimating 60 million euros for buildings and infrastructure, with 40% of the nearly 1,000 affected homes, as well as shops and schools, suffering damage in July 2021. While reconstruction is progressing with the help of Walloon, European, and federal subsidies, the municipality still faces a funding gap of approximately 16 million euros. Dejardin acknowledged that the project has incurred additional debt and noted the slow pace of administrative procedures, despite having pre-existing plans.