Best Practices
Onlanden
Part of:
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.
De Onlanden (2,500 ha) was a peat area with agriculture (grassland), dealing with problems due to soil subsidence and frequent flooding. During periods of heavy rainfall, even the city of Groningen was threatened by flooding, as water from the higher Drenthe flowed towards the Lauwersmeer at great speed.
The plans are a result of the 1998 floods affecting several districts of the city of Groningen: De Onlanden became a huge water retention area. Meadows will be flooded during periods of heavy rainfall to protect the city and its surrounding regions. The water is retained and delayed draining towards the Lauwersmeer. The project is a long and successful collaboration between local governments, the waterboard, the forest stewardship organisation, the natural monument stewardship organisation, and local farmers and residents. The original swamp landscape is restored and is once again a beautiful natural area on the outskirts of the city. You will find birds, foxes, roe deer and other animals. Numerous cycling and hiking trails and opportunities for water recreation make De Onlanden a perfect leisure destination.
The plans are a result of the 1998 floods affecting several districts of the city of Groningen: De Onlanden became a huge water retention area. Meadows will be flooded during periods of heavy rainfall to protect the city and its surrounding regions. The water is retained and delayed draining towards the Lauwersmeer. The project is a long and successful collaboration between local governments, the waterboard, the forest stewardship organisation, the natural monument stewardship organisation, and local farmers and residents. The original swamp landscape is restored and is once again a beautiful natural area on the outskirts of the city. You will find birds, foxes, roe deer and other animals. Numerous cycling and hiking trails and opportunities for water recreation make De Onlanden a perfect leisure destination.
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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