The Municipality of Dalhem
The Municipality of Dalhem
The Municipality of Dalhem is a rural municipality of the Walloon Region, located in the Province of Liège, between Liège (Belgium) and Maastricht (the Netherlands). It covers an extensive area of 3,605 hectares and comprises eight villages: Berneau, Bombaye, Dalhem, Feneur, Mortroux, Neufchâteau, Saint-André and Warsage. With a population of approximately 7,700 inhabitants, the municipality is characterized by a strong local identity and a predominantly rural living environment.
Dalhem is a green and undulating territory, typical of the Pays de Herve, composed of bocage landscapes (meadows, orchards, groves, cultivated fields, etc.) and numerous watercourses such as the Berwinne, the Ri d’Asse and the Bolland, which wind their way between the villages.
These environments form natural corridors rich in biodiversity and provide a peaceful, rural setting highly valued by residents and visitors seeking tranquility, authenticity and verdant landscapes. The municipality thus offers an ideal living environment, as well as excellent conditions for hiking, cycling, horse riding and leisure walks.
The municipality is fully aware of the challenges associated with climate-related phenomena, notably the increase in violent winds, droughts and episodes of heavy rainfall, which may lead to local flooding. The floods of 2018, 2021 and 2024 caused significant damage and were officially recognized as natural disasters by the Walloon Government.
A proactive municipal approach
To better prevent these risks, Dalhem has incorporated specific measures into its sustainable municipal policy. These initiatives clearly demonstrate the municipality’s commitment to combining the protection of residents, sustainable water management and the preservation of the natural landscape:
- Implementation of a “Rain Plan,” including the creation of stormwater retention basins, grassed buffer strips, filtering dams, hedge planting and the installation of fascines to slow water runoff and reduce surface flow;
- Hydrological studies and cooperation with neighboring municipalities, watercourse managers, the Province and the Region within the framework of Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs);
- Participation in the European Interreg Sponge project, promoting nature-based solutions to address flooding and drought.
The Interreg SPONGE project
The Municipality of Dalhem is an active partner in the Interreg Meuse–Rhine Sponge project, officially launched in October 2025. This cross-border partnership brings together nine Belgian, Dutch and German authorities and environmental organizations with a shared objective: restoring the landscape’s natural “sponge effect” through nature-based solutions (hedgerows, trees, ponds, grasslands, wetlands, etc.).
The extreme events of recent years—both floods and droughts—have demonstrated the need to act at the scale of the entire river basin. By strengthening natural ecosystems, Sponge contributes to protecting our villages while enhancing biodiversity.
Programme and key actions
Over a three-year period, Sponge benefits from a total budget of €6.5 million, 50% of which is funded by the European Union.
In particular, the project provides for:
- Demonstrations of nature-based measures in the field;
- Collective action plans for citizens and associations in local valleys;
- The creation of natural retention basins;
- A voucher system enabling farmers, landowners and SMEs to implement certain measures;
- The organization of thematic walks to raise awareness among residents and decision-makers.
As a result of the preparatory work carried out and the procedures undertaken over recent months, the Municipality of Dalhem has secured a subsidy of more than one million euros (from the European Union and the Walloon Region) for the implementation of flood prevention measures and infrastructure within its territory.
This substantial funding represents a major step forward, while also entailing complex administrative and technical management for municipal departments. It should enable the realization of several projects within the municipality over the next three years.
Specifically, the projects pursued by Dalhem within the framework of Sponge are as follows:
- The creation of a retention basin on the Berwinne;
- The recalibration of constricted sections of the Ri d’Asse, a tributary of the Berwinne;
- The construction of a right-bank embankment along the Berwinne at Berneau, with the aim of protecting residential properties.
It should also be noted that the Municipality of Dalhem benefits from additional subsidies granted by the Walloon Public Service (SPW) under the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP) funding allocation scheme. These funds are intended for the construction of two retention basins on the Ri d’Asse.
Page about Sponge
Contact:
Virginie Kevers (Head of the Living Environment Department)
Tel: +32 4 374 74 22