The recent three heatwaves over the past month and dry spring has depleted Dutch reservoirs, forcing the government to declare the water rationing for the fourth time since 1976. Government raises drought response level as water managers begin prioritising water distribution across the Netherlands. The Netherlands officially declared a water shortage on Thursday after weeks of persistent drought, prompting authorities to raise the national drought response level. The last time the Netherlands raised its drought response to Level 2 was in August 2022. The highest alert level, Level 3, was last declared in 2003.