In many deltas around the world, lowland rivers are intensively managed to meet objectives such as safety, navigation and recreation. In the meantime there is a growing awareness that rivers are natural systems and that, rather than further regulation works, the dynamic natural processes should be better utilized to reach multifunctional objectives in a dynamic world. In the Dutch Rhine river, many integrated management projects were initiated under the Room for the River government initiative, in the river itself as well as the streams. RiverCare was a research program studying the effects of innovative measures such as longitudinal training dams, side channels, removal of bank protection, re-meandering of streams, dredging/nourishment and floodplain rehabilitation. RiverCare as a whole studied the morphological, ecological and societal effects of these innovative measures to prepare our rivers for future generations. Our case studies were mainly located in the river Rhine-Lek, Waal, Meuse, IJssel and Waal.