Table 1 Overview of the results of the cases

Dike improvements

Monofunctional: asset manager is purely focused upon securing the primary function of its assets, in order to stick to the formal norms with regard to protection against floods.

Communication aimed at informing the public and trying to minimize negative external effects, in order to minimize resistance and delay during implementation. Some consultation when it comes to fine-tuning the measures.

The asset manager was successful in securing implementation of the dike enforcements. Support was mainly based upon a shared sense of urgency to take measures after the near-floods of 1993 and 1995.

Afsluitdijk

Accommodating: asset manager focuses upon maintaining and securing primary function of asset, but allows other actors to develop proposals for adding other functions to the asset.

Communication about the objective of the reinforcement. Consultation within a separate process to develop a regional agenda. Fixed moments to connect the national and the regional processes.

(Until now) the asset manager is successful in implementing the enforcement, and regional actors are able to connect their projects to the enforcement project.

Room for the River

Integrated: asset manager uses assets to realize integration of different functions or values

Communication about the objectives of the program. Consultation and coproduction of concrete projects. Stakeholder participation is aimed at informing the public, and together with stakeholders drafting the measures.

The asset manager is successful in realizing the double ambition (water discharge capacity and spatial quality) and in most of the cases stakeholders are satisfied with the chosen solution.

Brouwersdam

Learning: asset manager is willing to explore new possibilities of value creation with help of his assets.

Coproduction. Stakeholder participation is focused upon maximising the room for possible solutions, to realize and finance a breach in the dam.

Many ideas are developed, but it is rather difficult to convince the asset owner (the minister of Water Works) about the necessity of contributing to the developed proposals.