The International Commission for the Hydrology of the Rhine Basin (CHR) is pleased to announce the launch of the RhineSed2028 project, marking an important milestone for strengthening (quantitative) sediment knowledge and cooperation across the Rhine basin (2026–2028). Note: the project focuses on the quantitative aspect of sediment regime in the Rhine basin (not on quality).

The first year of the CHR project Rheinblick2027 is almost over. Great progress has been made over the past year. Workshops have been organised, papers published and various model activities carried out, such as hydrological simulations based on KNMI 2023 climate scenarios.

Switzerland, as the “Wasserschloss Europas”, is an established term in public discourse that has evolved over time into an identity-shaping metaphor. A newspaper analysis spanning the last 100 years shows how the use of this metaphor has changed in response to external factors. The year with the highest number of newspaper articles employing the metaphor was the heatwave summer of 2003. Other years with high numbers of occurrences coincide with international exhibitions (Expos), where Switzerland presented itself as the “Wasserschloss Europas” or made related references.