Joep Janssen
Newsletter (Digital)
What can floods teach us about surviving the climate crisis? More than you might think.
Seeing the impact of rising sea levels firsthand in Vietnam lit a fire in me. I knew I had to support communities in adapting to this new reality—and share the powerful lessons from those already on the frontlines.
I’m Joep Janssen, and on this blog, I share insights from my work at the Watersnoodmuseum (Flood Museum) in the Netherlands, reflections on global water challenges, and personal stories from my travels. My mission? To make complex climate issues relatable—and inspire meaningful action.
For 10 years, I led Nextblue, a platform amplifying the voices of vulnerable coastal communities facing climate change. Now, at the Watersnoodmuseum, I connect the lessons of the 1953 North Sea Flood to today’s challenges, from the Netherlands to islands like Bonaire and Tuvalu, where rising sea levels pose an urgent threat.
This blog offers you a unique perspective on water resilience, drawing on my experiences working with communities around the world. It’s a space to highlight solutions and amplify stories from journalists and communities I’ve met along the way. By curating these voices, I aim to bring fresh perspectives to water resilience and climate adaptation.
From living in Vietnam and writing Living with the Mekong to traveling through Bangladesh, I’ve seen firsthand how communities innovate to survive. These stories fuel my passion for blending history, lived experiences, and new ideas to build a more resilient future.
Here, you’ll find stories of resilience, innovative solutions, and insights into how history shapes our climate reality. I hope these stories inspire action in your community, whether through supporting local initiatives, advocating for policy change, or simply spreading awareness.
Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest stories and insights. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn and Bluesky. Have thoughts or questions? If you’re signed in, feel free to send me a message—I’d love to hear from you! Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | Local |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | N/A |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesCan India’s ancient desert water system survive modernity?
🌍 This story is part of the Invited Voices series — real stories from communities on the frontlines of climate change. Deep in the Thar Desert lies Bada Bagh — the “big garden” — where an ancient water system has sustained farming for centuries. Can it survive the market age? Bada Bagh — which means “big garden” — is a green valley tucked into the dunes of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert in north-western India.
This is what resilience looks like (Photo essay)
🌍 This story is part of the Invited Voices series — real stories from communities on the frontlines of climate change. “I saw the forest of my childhood vanish, and with it, the safety of families who now live between water and fear.” In 2014, I launched Sinking Sundarbans with a single question: how does life continue in one of the world’s largest mangrove forests, when the ground beneath it is disappearing? I grew up in Baruipur, near Kolkata, and often visited my uncle’s home in the Sundarbans.
🌊 A new chapter begins
There’s something powerful about new beginnings, right? Like the tide rolling in, each wave brings new opportunities. As I close the chapter of Nextblue, I’m excited to set sail on a new journey with you. In this issue, I’m pleased to share some big news: after 10 years of sharing water stories through Nextblue, I’m launching my personal blog. This new space will continue my work on climate resilience, water safety, and community adaptation – but with a more personal touch.
How disaster reshaped Zeeland's land
The sea didn’t just take lives in 1953 — it changed the land. Salt crept into the soil. Farms failed. Roads and villages disappeared beneath the water. And when the tide finally withdrew, the Netherlands faced a painful question: how do we rebuild? This issue revisits that turning point. A story of sorrow, yes — but also of solidarity and ripple effects. Zeeland’s recovery became more than local repair.
🌍 This story is part of the Invited Voices series — real stories from communities on the frontlines of climate change. In Almería, Spain, plastic greenhouses thrive. But the land, the water, and the people are paying the price, writes Neal Haddaway. The southern Spanish province of Almería tells a striking tale of transformation. Known for its arid climate and scarce rainfall — just 200 mm a year — it is the driest region in continental Europe.
In the Andes, a lesson in listening
🌍 This story is part of the Invited Voices series — real stories from communities on the frontlines of climate change. The solar shower burned her hand. But the real issue wasn’t the heat. It was the silence around who controls the water, and who gets to speak. The year is 2012, and I am living in the Andes. I work for a Finnish public–private partnership programme that aims to improve living standards for local people, especially women.
Is Bangladesh Losing Land to the River? (Photo Essay)
π This article is part of the Invited Voices series β real stories from communities on the frontlines of climate change. In this report, photojournalist Sohan Rahat takes us to the Padma River basin, a region in Bangladesh that is increasingly affected by riverbank erosion and climate migration. According to NASA Earth Observatory, the Padma River has devoured more than 66,000 hectares of land since 1967. In this low-lying delta, erosion is common, but in 2018, something changed.
Saving the Yamuna: India’s river lifeline (Photo essay)
🌍 This story is part of the Invited Voices series — real stories from communities on the frontlines of climate change. As I gaze out over the Yamuna River, a pink-coded metro glides across grey pillars, carrying commuters through Delhi’s bustling expanse. Below, the river drags itself forward — choked, emaciated, frothy with industrial waste. At Kalindi Kunj Ghat, cattle wade through the polluted Yamuna, polybags pile on the shore, and worshippers still gather to perform rituals.