The Netherlands is globally renowned for its expertise in water management. Dykes, polders, and advanced hydraulic engineering have protected us from floods for centuries. But a new natural threat is emerging, one for which we are far less prepared: fire. Due to climate change, we are increasingly facing droughts, heatwaves, and consequently, wildfires. In the past five years, the number of wildfires in our country has risen, posing new risks to people, animals, and the landscape. Yet public awareness in the Netherlands appears to lag behind: only half of the Dutch population believes we should already be preparing for new climate risks, compared to 70% across the rest of Europe.

Students explore wildfire awareness

An interdisciplinary Dream Team of seven students from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam tackled this issue. Their goal: to help people in the Netherlands adapt to the increasing climate risks associated with wildfires. Over the past year, they focused on risk communication, particularly the role of maps that visualise wildfire hazards.

The students conducted a survey among 160 visitors to De Hoge Veluwe National Park, an area of vast forests, popular with both tourists and local residents. Together with MEJOR Technologies, they explored how AI and technology can influence public understanding of the threat of wildfires. Participants were shown four different types of wildfire risk maps, made using AI and machine learning.

What works – and what doesn’t – in risk communication?

The study produced several surprising insights:

• The label ‘AI’ made the message seem less urgent. When people were told that artificial intelligence (AI) had been used to predict wildfires, they perceived the risk as less serious. Mentioning AI unintentionally reduced the sense of alarm, even though the content remained unchanged. Trust in or fear of AI did not play a role in that.
• Maps accompanied by clear, accessible language triggered the strongest risk awareness. This indicates the importance of combining visual communication with plain-language explanations to make complex risk information understandable to a wide audience.

These findings were presented at the 2025 EGU Conference in Vienna, where around 20,000 geoscientists gather annually to share their research.

From research to action

Milica Mijailovic (VU Dream Team) says: “Effective communication about wildfire risks is crucial — not only to raise awareness but also to better protect our environment and biodiversity. As we design our landscapes, from nature reserves to residential areas, we must increasingly take fire hazards into account.”

Join the team

The upcoming academic year (2025–2026) offers new students the chance to build on this research. Potential next steps include launching awareness campaigns, developing educational materials, or conducting follow-up research on climate risks in the Netherlands.

Melanie, International Business Law student, says about her participation in the Dream Team: "This year was one of the highlights of my studies. It was inspiring and educational and really a special experience."

Would you like to contribute to this urgent topic? Email dreamteams@vu.nl to find out how you can get involved.