Transnational cooperation will contribute to the prevention of flood damage in the NWE. The recent floods in central Europe illustrate the imperative with which common action must be promoted. In the project Joint Approach for Managing Flooding (JAF) five partner regions from the Netherlands, the UK and Germany will work together over four and a half years to examine the delicate balance between water systems, nature/climate and the environment. The objective is to develop a joint approach to manage flooding, in particular in catchment areas at particular risk from heavy rainfall. The partnership will endeavour to achieve its goals by improving spatial planning to promote multifunctional land use, restoring rivers to enhance water storage capacity, implementing new technologies to link groundwater and surface water management, and increase public awareness and support for innovative policy solutions. The project is transnational in that, horizontally, there is a joint strategy process, whereby all partners are involved in a concrete transfer of best practice in executing their various demonstration activities and investments. New technologies and policy approaches are tested across the partnership, and thus, a wide geographical area. The outcomes may differ among partners, leading in turn to refinements to the common strategy and greater institutional learning. Achievements: Results of knowledge exchange (Haskoning)Knowledge transfer within the Jaf Project (land & water management)Blue knots (Haskoning and Arcadis