This paper discusses the interaction between climate change, land use, water management and internal evolution within a river catchment, applied to the Maas River catchment. It is based on the results of a project carried out as part of the Dutch research programme "Climate Changes Spatial Planning", theme "Climate Scenarios". These results were obtained by a combination of proxy reconstructions and by numerical modelling of past, present-day and near-future climate and river evolution. Since external factors like climate change and human impact influence the river system in such a way that they will have severe consequences for society, economy and public health, understanding of the cause-and-effect relations within a river basin appears to be of utmost importance. Therefore, a background framework for accurate water management strategies, based on the intrinsic factors and external driving factors (climate, human impact) influencing the Maas River, has been developed. Together with the simulations, which give a good overview of the trends in precipitation and discharge between 4000-3000 BP and 1000-2000 AD (as well as an outlook to the 21 st century), the proxies help to gain insight into the long-term changes in climate and hydrology in the Maas River basin. It appears that the principles of the dynamic equilibrium in a river system provide most useful guidelines for such a background. From the reconstructed river evolution it is illustrated what kind of effects may be expected from each natural or anthropogenic distortion of that equilibrium for flood risks, changes in river course and morphology, and fluvial transport capacity. It is concluded that river management, including compliance with the recent European directives for maintenance of natural heritage of river systems, should find a balance between providing the possibility to the river to maintain a dynamic equilibrium, based on its reconstructed historical river behaviour, and necessary measures as directed by practical social and economic needs.