When floods, coastal erosion or sea-level rise threaten settlements or infrastructure, European countries turn to managed retreat more often than previously assumed. Managed retreat refers to the planned, government-supported relocation of people, homes or infrastructure away from areas exposed to flooding and other climate-related hazards. A new German–Dutch study led by Kiel University in collaboration with the Dutch research institute Deltares systematically documents the extent and diversity of such measures in Europe for the first time.