Dry, hot summers are putting Dutch dikes at risk and threatening German river trade

Volunteers and technicians are patrolling Dutch dikes for drought-caused cracks — using apps to report problems — a modern take on the “Dutch boy” story.
Rivers like the Rhine have hit record lows, exposing riverbeds, leaving houseboats high and dry and forcing cargo ships to carry far less freight.
Farmers face irrigation bans, salt intrusion and smaller fruit harvests, while authorities explore simple fixes (hedges, “sponge” soils) to hold more water.