Climate change and associated extreme weather events push the water system – and with that the current Dutch practice that facilitates desired land uses – to its limit. A paradigm shift is needed to make the soil- and water system a guiding principle for spatial developments. National and provincial governments and waterboards are now confronted with the challenge to formulate what this actually means. Together with experts we are working on several projects to help translate these challenges into preconditions for spatial developments to achieve a more sustainable land use practice in the future.