Floods are the most prevalent natural hazard in Europe. Has flood risk increased in the continent? How, where, and why? Are climate change impacts apparent? How do socio-economic trends and associated land-use and land-cover change impact flood risk? This book considers national and regional perspectives on flood risk change, detection and attribution of change, and the re-insurer's point of view. Offers an overview of flood risk in Europe, past, present, and future Includes national/regional chapters covering central, western, southern, and northern Europe, the Alpine region, and the Iberian Peninsula Rectifies commonplace judgements: e.g. the climate is warming so floods should be becoming more frequent and intense, but observations do not always confirm this expectation