Best Practices
Blauwestad
Part of:
De Ommelanden
De Ommelanden
It is often said that God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands. Over the years we have learned to reclaim or remove large bodies of water and protect our low-lying country against the sea.
We managed to create land in places where there used to be sea. It was therefore quite a shock when it was announced in the 90s that a huge area would be flooded in East Groningen. The construction of an 800 hectare lake should give a new impulse to a region suffering from declining employment and an ageing population. Combined with the development of a residential area, this would create a unique form of living, attractive to people from all over the country. Their arrival would stimulate the local economy. In addition, the lake would also function as a huge water storage, combining all kinds of water tasks around the area into one project. Although Blauwestad proved less attractive as a residential area, it has already gained a lot in the field of nature, recreation and climate adaptation. This groundbreaking project shows that adaptation to the climate sometimes also means adapting to an identity.
De Ommelanden
The Netherlands was once a swamp, filled with streams, flooded areas and wet nature. Over time, this empty swamp land was transformed into one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The majority of people live in cities and towns, the outside area is mainly used for intensive agriculture and other functions. As a result, our landscape became less and less natural and less and less wet. Nowadays, confronted with the effects of climate change, we start to realize the necessity of wet nature: to absorb excessive water due to heavy rainfall, to retain and control water that flows in from other areas, and to provide water during periods of drought.
Luckily, numerous initiatives are set up to recover our landscape to its natural wet state. By flooding meadows again, by re-meandering streams and by participation of inhabitants in the built environment, the Northern-Netherlands can increasingly become the marshland that it once was. We help nature, so nature can help us and protect us from the changing climate.
Luckily, numerous initiatives are set up to recover our landscape to its natural wet state. By flooding meadows again, by re-meandering streams and by participation of inhabitants in the built environment, the Northern-Netherlands can increasingly become the marshland that it once was. We help nature, so nature can help us and protect us from the changing climate.
Best practices in
De Ommelanden
De Ommelanden
At a rock’s throw distance from the city of Groningen lies the contiguous nature reserve De Onlanden for almost 10 years. Between the stream valleys of the Eelderdiep and the Peizerdiep lies wet low moorland.
In the Netherlands it often rains. A large share of that rainwater disappears into the sewer. When it rains too much, sewers can flood, with too little rain the much needed rainwater disappears.
The restoration of stream valleys is a reaction to the channelling of almost all Drentse streams. This was done in the early 20th century.
The Three Polders is one of the sub-projects of the area development in the Southern Westerkwartier. Originally this area was very wet, but over the years it was drained to benefit agriculture.
The Marumerlage area lies north of the village of Marum, and is crossed by the Dwarsdiep river. It is part of the ‘Ecologische Hoofdstructuur’: a network of existing nature reserves, new nature to be created and ecological connection zones where animals and plants are given priority.
It is often said that God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands. Over the years we have learned to reclaim or remove large bodies of water and protect our low-lying country against the sea.
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