In 1990 the Government and Parliament of the Netherlands have decided on a new national coastal defence policy. To ensure the enduring safety of the polders and the sustainable preservation of the dune area, it was decided to preserve the 1990 coastline. The main method to preserve the 1990 coastline (the basal coastline) is beach nourishment. On a yearly basis 5 to 7 million m 3 of sand is added to the Dutch beaches. The new coastal defence policy appears to be a powerful tool to maintain the coastline in its present position, even with an increased sea level rise. In the coming years innovative coastal defence methods will be applied as well: a shoreface nourishment project will be carried out and for coastal stretches with very severe erosion seaward coastal defence options are in study.