The row between the Netherlands and Belgium over flooding a piece of land has taken a new twist because the European Commission has rejected an alternative put forward by The Hague, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.

The Netherlands has refused to meet agreements with Belgium to flood part of the Hedwige polder on the Westerschelde estuary in Zeeland but the Commission has said alternative flood sites are insufficient.
The other sites, near Vlissingen and Moerdijk, are not an adequate substitute, environment commissioner Janez Potocnik reportedly told The Hague last week.
The Netherlands and Belgium agreed in 2008 to flood the Hedwige polder in Zeeland to compensate for the loss of nature following the deepening of the Westerschelde estuary, which allows larger ships into Antwerp port.
Border
The polder straddles the border between the two countries, but the Dutch government faced fierce opposition to the plan from the Zeelanders.
After last year’s election and the formation of a new government, environment minister Henk Bleker said the polder would not be submerged after all, much to Belgium’s fury.
In June, Bleeker announced he had found an alternative and that the Schorer and Welzinge polders to the east of Vlissingen would be flooded instead.
Bird protection groups are already taking legal action against Bleker for failing to take action. The Westerschelde estuary is an important bird breeding ground.