A European heat wave brings dry, hot conditions across parts of Europe, contributing to drought and wildfires in several regions, including France, Spain, Portugal and Crete. The impacts extend beyond wildfire risk. In the Netherlands, lower water levels and drier conditions raise concerns about the state of key flood defenses, with Dutch dikes facing greater strain during prolonged dry weather. In Germany, the same low-river-flow conditions threaten inland shipping because Germany relies heavily on river transport, particularly along major waterways that can become difficult to navigate when water levels fall. Together, the dry conditions create a linked set of risks: environmental hazards from fires in multiple countries and infrastructure and economic pressures in the Netherlands and Germany related to water management and river transport capacity. Sources describe the broader drought as the driver of these effects and note that the heat wave is ongoing, with implications for public safety and logistics.