NCG2026

Nationaal Congres Grondwater – 2026
Dutch National Groundwater Conference – 2026

–>Registration is now open!<–

Shaping the Future of Groundwater

Organised by IAH – Dutch National Chapter & partners
Venue: IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Date: 11 June 2026, Time: 09:00 – 18:00

Language: English (Dutch optional)

This event brings together groundwater professionals, from scientific research to policy and practice, fostering dialogue across disciplines and sectors towards sustainable groundwater protection, use and management.

Aims of the Conference

Bring together and connect those working on (inter)national groundwater topics based in the Netherlands
Cross-sectoral scope: From policy and legislation, to contracting and consultancy, to science and research
Provide an overview of the wide range of (inter)national groundwater activities from professionals in the Netherlands
Facilitate students and early-career professionals entering the groundwater field
Increase visibility and awareness of the importance of groundwater

Call for abstracts

We invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and educators to submit original abstracts for oral and poster presentations addressing groundwater-related research, applications, and innovations. Contributions may be theoretical, methodological, or applied, and interdisciplinary approaches are particularly encouraged.

Topics of Interest (non-exhaustive)

- Groundwater-dependent ecosystems
- Groundwater governance and policy
- Groundwater–surface water interactions
- Groundwater and climate change
- Urban groundwater and infrastructure
- Groundwater quality
- Emerging contaminants
- Regional groundwater systems
- Groundwater modelling
- Groundwater monitoring and characterisation
- Managed aquifer recharge
- Digital groundwater
- Coastal groundwater and salinisation
- Soil–groundwater interactions
- Geothermal energy production and storage
- Risks for groundwater and groundwater protection
- Groundwater nuisances
- Groundwater education

Abstract Submission and Guidelines

15th of March, 2026: Abstract submission is now closed. Please contact any member of the IAH-NL board should you have any questions.

Abstracts must be submitted using the Abstract submission form.

The abstract body text must not exceed 200 words.

Authors may indicate a preference for oral or poster presentation; however, the Congress Committee reserves the right to make the final allocation, including session tagging based on the submitted topics.

All correspondence regarding abstracts will be sent to the corresponding author, who is responsible for informing co-authors.

At least one author must be registered for the congress for the abstract to be included in the Congress programme.

Each registered participant may present one abstract.

Important Dates

15 January 2026 – Call for abstracts opens
15 March 2026 – Abstract submission deadline
15 April 2026 – Abstract acceptance communication
25 April 2026 – Congress registration deadline for presenters

We look forward to your contributions and to an engaging exchange of ideas on current and emerging groundwater challenges and solutions.

Registration

Registration fees include access to the full Congress programme and coffee/tea breaks, lunch and borrel.

Student rate: 20 € (bachelor’s, master’s and PhD)

Regular rate: 35 €

Programme

The full-day event encompasses 2 keynote speakers, 8 parallel sessions with 34 oral presentations and a dedicated poster session with 30 posters.

Keynote lecturers:

Ida de Groot-Wallast, senior groundwater policy officer at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Hague, the Netherlands

Marijke Huysmans, professor in groundwater hydrology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium

Parallel sessions:

Managed Aquifer Recharge & Applications
Regional Hydrogeology & System Characterisation
Climate Change, Drought & Extremes
Governance, Policy & Societal Challenges
Ecohydrology & Groundwater–Surface Water Interactions
Groundwater Quality: Contaminants, Impacts & Risks
Groundwater Modelling & Digital Methods
Coastal Groundwater & Salinisation

Congress Organisation

Congress Committee

Victor Bense, Wageningen University and Research
Boris van Breukelen, TU Delft
Reynold Chow, Wageningen University and Research
Arjen Oord, Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland
Andrew Pearson, IGRAC
Vincent Post, Edinsi Groundwater, NHV
Yvonne Schavemaker, TNO
Tibor Stigter, IHE Delft
Thomas Sweijen, Utrecht University
Ype van der Velden, VU Amsterdam
Gerhard Winters, CRUX Engineering BV

IAH-NL Board

Daniela Benedicto
Niels Hartog
Ádám Tóth
Ane Wiersma

Conference contact

Have a question about the conference, registration, or programme?
Get in touch with us — we’re happy to help.

iahnetherlands@gmail.com