The Dommel River has always been more than water. Flowing through the Netherlands, it has shaped art, culture, and innovation for centuries. The subject of several Vincent van Gogh paintings, the Dommel has long inspired creativity. Today, it runs through one of Europe’s most dynamic regions: the “Brainport Region” around Eindhoven, often compared to Silicon Valley for its high-tech business ecosystem and economic impact.

But even the smartest cities can’t outpace nature.

For generations, the Dutch reshaped the Dommel for agriculture, trade, and urban growth. Wetlands were drained, channels redirected, and the river was forced to fit human needs. Now, the consequences are unavoidable. As climate change accelerates, the Dommel’s altered course magnifies devastating floods in the rainy season and crippling droughts in the dry season. What once fueled prosperity now threatens to undermine it.

Development in Eindhoven has even been forced to pause. Under strict European Union environmental regulations, the Dommel basin must be repaired and biodiversity targets met before future growth can continue. The message is clear: progress cannot come at the expense of the river.

Portrait Of A River, a Rivers Are Life film, captures this turning point. From the bustling city center to the quiet countryside, we see how residents are rallying around the Dommel. Urban planners, conservationists, businesses, and community members are working together to restore wetlands, revive ecosystems, and bring balance back to the watershed. Their efforts reveal a powerful truth: the future of the Brainport Region depends not only on innovation in technology, but also on innovation in conservation.

The Dommel River is a reminder that every waterway holds both history and possibility. It connects culture, economy, and environment in ways we can’t ignore. By protecting and restoring it, the Netherlands is proving that collective action can chart a sustainable future, one where rivers and people thrive together.

Watch Portrait Of A River to witness how a community, a city, and a nation are rediscovering the true value of their river.