معرفی
Jasper van Kempen is a Professor by Special Appointment of Transdisciplinary Water Law at Utrecht University's Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, specifically within the Institute of Constitutional, Administrative Law and Legal Theory. This endowed chair was established in November 2024 by the Schilthuis Fund Foundation to promote the scientific and practical application of water law and water history. Van Kempen combines this academic position with his main role as Senior Policy Officer at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
His research interests focus on the intersection of water management science and practice, with particular expertise in Water Law, Environmental Law, Administrative Law, Water Management, and Water Governance. He approaches these fields from a transdisciplinary perspective, recognizing that societal challenges in the living environment, particularly those related to climate change, require collaboration between science and practical engagement. His work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to clean water and climate action.
An analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on European water legislation, particularly the Water Framework Directive (WFD). His work examines implementation challenges in the Dutch legal framework, transboundary cooperation in river basin management, and the relationship between water quality and sustainability. He frequently analyzes court decisions and provides commentary on evolving water law jurisprudence, with particular attention to the practical application of legal frameworks in addressing contemporary water challenges like drought management in delta regions.
Van Kempen is actively engaged in the legal community through several secondary positions: as Deputy Judge at the East Brabant Court, Chair of the Complaints Committee of the De Stichtse Rijnlanden Water Board, editorial member of the magazine Environment and Law, case law coordinator for the AB Rechtspraak Administrative Law journal, and teacher at the Grotius Academy. These roles demonstrate his commitment to bridging academic research with practical legal applications in water governance.
