In this paper we analyse the role of knowledge management in the policy process
about the Development Plan 2010 for the Scheldt Estuary (a Dutch-Flemish river
basin). The conflicts of interests around this package of measures are sharp.
Therefore, knowledge is often strategically used in order to defend stakeholders’ own
preferences. The project organisation (ProSes) that prepares the Development Plan
organised a joint fact-finding process in order to reach ‘shared knowledge’. In this
paper we evaluate this process. Especially the relations between the joint fact-finding
process and the traditional democratic decision-making process and the separate
organisations, which form part of the policy network, seem to be problematic. We
formulate some conclusions about the possibilities and limitations of knowledge
management within complex policy processes
