This report examines the consequences of alternative policies for providing flood protection to the non-tidal branches of the Rijn and the Maas rivers in the Netherlands. It is the only English language volume in a set of volumes produced by a consortium of research organizations that conducted this policy study. It focuses on estimating the flood damage that would occur under alternative safety levels, estimating the financial costs of alternative dike improvement strategies, and assessing the impacts of alternative flood protection policies. The primary objective of the impact assessment is to look for policies that would provide a high level of safety, would not cost too much, and would preserve as much as possible of the existing landscape and natural and cultural values along the rivers.