Dutch pioneer floating eco-homes

Small and densely populated, the Netherlands is one of the countries most at risk from climate change and rising sea levels.

But in one village in the south of the country, they are trying out a new way of living with an increased risk of floods.

A small ferry shuttles back and forth from one bank of
the River Maas to the other. This is the only way of reaching
Maasbommel, in Gelderland province, from the south.

The landscape is saturated with water, criss-crossed by
rivers and the network of dykes which are supposed to protect the area
from flooding.

But the dykes are not always enough. In 1993 and again
in 1995, floods forced tens of thousands of people to leave their
homes.

Rising sea levels

Now, with climate change, floods are likely to be more frequent and more severe.

Dutch scientists predict a rise in sea levels of up to 110cm (43 inches) by the year 2100.

At the same time, there is growing pressure on land. The
Dutch government estimates 500,000 new homes will be needed in the next
two decades.

Most of the land suitable for conventional building has
already been snapped up. So Dutch housebuilders are experimenting with
new solutions.