Maarten Kleinhans
How can you study massive changes in the landscape? By making them very small! Professor of Water and Sediment Maarten Kleinhans from Utrecht University studies the effects of climate change on water landscapes using his unique experimental tank, 'The Metronome'.
“Changing just one polder won't make a difference.”
What are you researching?
I study landscapes shaped by water. The water moves sand and silt, creating beautiful patterns such as channels, marshes, and sandbanks. I observe this on a large scale in both space and time. I see a landscape that has formed over thousands of years, with humans occasionally drawing a line through it. In my view, the Rhine is now just a canal.
How did you get here?
I initially wanted to study astronomy, but I found the course had too much math and too little actual astronomy for my liking. Moreover, I questioned why it was important to know how stars were formed. So, I switched to earth sciences. I love nature, and its importance is clear because it's been under pressure for a long time. I completed my PhD on the movement of sand and gravel in flowing water, and since then, I've been looking at the landscape on an increasingly larger scale.
What does your research look like?
I work with computer models, measurements (such as from a boat), and lab experiments. The latter is the most fun. I saw an experiment in the United States where researchers simulated sections of free-flowing rivers on a small scale in a twenty-meter-long tank. I wanted to do the same!
The downside of such a tank was that it didn’t include tides, which are crucial for landscape formation—tides bring water, salt, plants, and animals onto the land. While playing the piano, I suddenly thought: can’t we tilt the tank back and forth to simulate tides? And it worked! My device, 'The Metronome,' is the world’s first working tidal tank. I’m quite proud of that.
Why is your research important?
As humans, we have managed water to a considerable extent, but we don’t have everything under control. Consider flooding, salinization, and land subsidence—these are all consequences of our interventions in the landscape over the past centuries. Therefore, we are increasingly seeking solutions that work better with nature. While this is promising, adjusting just one polder does not make a significant impact! My research is necessary to develop large-scale measures that are effective everywhere and in the long term.
What do you want to achieve in 5 years?
My next research focuses on storm surges. Storm surges are intense but short-lived and infrequent. Do they still have the power to alter the landscape in the long term?
In the meantime, I am engaging with water boards, members of parliament, provincial authorities, and others to demonstrate the need for a long-term plan. If we need extra space for water and natural coastal defense, we shouldn’t allocate that space for other purposes. The Metronome helps to illustrate what such a changed landscape could look like. With a plan, we can decide how to shape the Netherlands ourselves—otherwise, a storm surge might do it for us.
Would you like to read more about The Metronome or the work of Maarten Kleinhans?
