Dike reinforcement Noordervaartdijk (section 2 Nauernasche Vaart West).

The dike will be raised approximately 20 cm to return to the required height. This will bring the dike up to the national standards for water safety.

On the side of the Nauernasche Vaart - where the houseboats and arks are located - a new steel sheet pile wall will be placed in front of the existing sheet pile wall. This construction will strengthen the dike on the waterfront and prevent instability. The new sheet piling will be slightly higher than the old one; any old concrete edges will probably be removed and covered with soil for a neat finish. The steel sheet piling will only be in the areas where houseboats/barges are located. Where there are no houseboats, there will be an underwater slope and a jetty for pleasure boats.

On the side of the residential houses, shoring (plastic sheet piling) will be installed along the entire length of the dike for support. This acts as a retaining structure to keep the dike body stable. Where possible, the dike will also be widened here with soil (a retaining berm) to provide additional stability - this will be considered and custom designed for each location. Also, all houses, houseboats and arks along and on this dike will be connected to a new pressure sewer line (pressure sewer). There will be a sump at each house to pump wastewater to the pressure sewer line; the exact placement of this will be determined in consultation with the residents.

The road on top of the dike will remain and will be widened slightly to about 3.50 meters. This will improve traffic safety and flow for local traffic. The road will retain its status as a bike path with local traffic: it will therefore remain a quiet road for residents, (moped) cyclists and local traffic. The current black bollards will not return in the new design. The existing street lighting will be replaced and distributed evenly, with the addition of a few extra light poles where necessary for safety.

All current parking spaces on the levee will return after the redevelopment. The municipal parking standard will be taken into account; this means that the current parking spaces will be returned 1 to 1 and that consideration will be given to asphalting some of the parking spaces that are now provided with mats. Places on the dike that are now provided with driving plates or mats (e.g., for turning) will be paved or improved where possible. The possibilities will be looked at per location and customized work will be done. In addition, the crest of the dike will be redesigned in consultation with residents - such as footpaths, benches or greenery on top of the dike, where the situation allows.

In the places where small pleasure boats are now moored along the waterfront, a jetty will be constructed in the water. Here, boats can safely moor in the future instead of being scattered along the shore. Various preliminary studies are currently underway (including ecology, soil structure, cables and pipes, and the condition of trees in the area). The results will be incorporated into the final design, so that natural values and technical concerns are taken into account. Where necessary, protective measures will be taken during implementation (for example, planning outside breeding seasons or sparing valuable trees). HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad will inform residents of important results of these investigations.

During construction, your home or houseboat will remain accessible, albeit sometimes via an alternative route or with temporary facilities. For residents on the landward side (houses), in principle their homes will remain accessible on foot. Temporarily it may not always be permitted to drive your car, motorcycle or scooter across the dike to your home. For example, consideration will be given to using the adjacent Stekelbaarspad as a temporary route for slow traffic if necessary. 

For residents on the water (houseboats/barges), access is more difficult during implementation: all houseboats and barges in the work area must be temporarily relocated to another berth a little further down the canal. This is necessary to clear the dike for the construction of the new sheet piling and embankment. HHNK understands that this is drastic and will do everything possible, together with the contractor, to make this temporary relocation as smooth as possible.

For the approximately 16 houseboats/barges on this dike section, temporary berths will be set up in the vicinity on the Nauernasche Vaart. The exact location is still under investigation. HHNK and the municipality are looking at several alternative locations. At the temporary moorings, all basic facilities will be guaranteed as now: there will be connections for water, electricity and internet/TV. These facilities will be arranged by the project and will not involve any additional costs for residents. The period at the temporary site is expected to be up to several months, depending on exactly how the contractor schedules the work.

The moving (towing) and mooring of houseboats and arks is coordinated by a specialized company, Bakker Maritiem Service. This party has extensive experience in the safe towing of houseboats. An independent inspection plan will also be made for each houseboat and ark. Insurance during towing will be arranged centrally by the project. You do not have to pay for the insurance or the cost of towing Health yourself - this is part of the project. However, the residents themselves should register the work with their insurance company as well.

Upon completion of the dike reinforcement, the houseboats will return to their permanent moorings along the renewed dike. Because the new steel sheet piling will be in front of the old sheet piling, on balance the boats will be slightly closer to the shore side than before. The existing mooring posts in the water can probably remain in place. However, the inspectors of HHNK must always be able to walk along the sheet piling for inspection.

Along the dike, some houseboat residents have a small garden, shed, terrace or parking space in use on the shore. HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad will discuss this personally with the residents concerned. The starting point is that if you have an official lease or permit to use the dike strip, you will be given a similar possibility on or near the dike after the dike reinforcement. If you do not currently have formal permission (permit/lease) for such a facility, we will see if this can still be established within the regulations, for example through a new (rental) agreement.

Objects on the dike that must be removed during the work (e.g., decks, steps, sheds) will be reported in a timely manner. You will be notified in advance to remove your belongings yourself; if you cannot, the contractor can do it for you. After the work is completed, everything (if permitted) will be returned to the dike; the contractor can help put it back, but only if a new agreement or permit has been issued for it. The project will take care of the storage of these decking, steps and sheds.

During construction, general nuisances such as construction traffic, noise, vibrations and possibly mud or dust must be taken into account. To limit nuisance, the plan is to work with supply and removal by water as much as possible. Heavy construction equipment on the narrow peat dike itself is preferred to be avoided because of its limited carrying capacity (there is already an axle load limit of 5 tons, and this will be maintained in the future). As a result, the dike will not be continuously loaded by heavy traffic during implementation. Despite all measures, local residents will notice the work. HHNK/municipality of Zaanstad and the contractor will coordinate the phasing as much as possible to ensure accessibility and try to cluster noisy or annoying work. If you have specific concerns or points of attention (e.g. regarding vibrations near your property), you can always indicate this to the environmental manager - we will try to provide customized solutions where possible.

Residents are expressly invited to participate during the design phase. In December 2024, during the residents' meeting, several responses have already been collected. There are still a number of opportunities to respond such as to the preliminary design. Any input on the design of the dike (such as benches, greenery or parking layout) are welcome and can be incorporated into the design where feasible. One-on-one meetings are also scheduled during implementation preparation (later in 2025) to go over individual wishes or concerns. Formal objections can also be made as part of the permit procedure as soon as the permits are available for inspection. HHNK and the Municipality of Zaanstad will inform those affected about how and when this will proceed, so that you can exercise your right to participate.

Current planning foresees a start of implementation work in mid-2026, after completion of design, permitting and procurement. The dike reinforcement will take approximately 1.5 - 2 years. The project on the Noordervaart dike is expected to be completed in late 2027/early 2028. Please note that this schedule is indicative; unforeseen circumstances (such as longer permit procedures or implementation setbacks) may cause delays. Residents will be kept informed of significant changes in the schedule.

Legal safety checks have shown that the Noordervaart dike is too low and unstable in places. Especially the inward stability (the strength of the dike towards the landside) is insufficient, which can lead to subsidence or even collapse of the dike at high water levels. To meet the standard and to permanently protect the surrounding polders from water from the Nauernasche Vaart, reinforcement is necessary. HHNK regularly checks its dikes and intervenes where necessary to guarantee the safety of residents.

Yes, the dike will be raised about 20 cm compared to the current situation. In addition, the top will be slightly widened; the road on the crest will have a width of approximately 3.5 meters. On the water side (storage basin side) there will be a new steel sheet pile wall just in front of the old bank line. The entire length of the landside will be reinforced with plastic sheet piling. Visually, when completed, the levee will look similar to the current one, albeit slightly higher. The road will remain a quiet path for local traffic and (moped) cyclists. There will be no speed bumps or bollards on the roadway. However, the layout on top of the dike will be refreshed; all current facilities (lighting, parking spaces) will return and, where possible, new furnishings such as benches or greenery will be added in consultation with the surrounding area.

All existing parking spaces on the dike will be reinstated after the reinforcement. The possibility of charging points for electric vehicles is also being investigated and will be included in further plan development. During the construction works, the number of parking spaces on the dike may be temporarily reduced. We will make arrangements with the contractor about this, for example to offer alternative parking spaces if necessary.

Yes. The houses on the landside will remain accessible as much as possible, although it may happen that you temporarily cannot get to your yard by car or motorcycle or bicycle. In such cases, walking will always remain possible. The house barges and boats will have to be moved temporarily. However, you will continue to live in your own houseboats and houseboats during this time - albeit at a different location on the canal. Care will be taken to ensure that the temporary location is easily accessible (via footbridges or pontoons) so that you can board safely. Once your houseboat and ark is returned to its final location after completion of the dike reinforcement, normal accessibility is restored.

Houseboats and barges will be given temporary moorings a little further down the Nauernasche Vaart, outside the immediate work area. The exact location will be determined in consultation; the preferred scenario is a quiet location with sufficient facilities and social safety. HHNK/Municipality of Zaanstad are now looking for an alternative. You will be informed as soon as a suitable location has been identified.

These facilities will be fully regulated by the project. The temporary berths will have connections for drinking water, electricity and gas, just like your permanent berth. (Telecom) facilities will also be provided so that you can continue to use television and internet (the technical details of which are still being examined, but the starting point is that you will remain connected at a similar level as now). The cost of these temporary connections and their relocation will be borne by the project - you will pay nothing extra for this.

HHNK/Municipality of Zaanstad will outsource the towing of houseboats and arks to an experienced maritime company (Bakker Maritime Service) that specializes in this. Beforehand, each houseboat and ark will be inspected and a plan will be made to safely detach, transport and moor them again. Moreover, the towing will be done with great Health and low pace.

As short as possible, but count on several months to a year at most. The total implementation period is approximately 18 - 24 months, but this includes work that does not directly affect your boat. The intention is to remove the houseboats - and boats - only during the strictly necessary construction phase and then immediately put them back. The exact duration depends partly on the contractor's construction schedule. HHNK/Municipality of Zaanstad will include in the contract with the contractor that the temporary relocation will be limited to the minimum necessary and that the reinstatement will take place as soon as safely possible once the dike and quay construction are ready.

All personal facilities on or adjacent to the dike will be Map and discussed with you before work begins. Do you have an official lease or permit for a garden, shed or private parking space on the dike, for example? If so, the basic assumption is that after the dike reinforcement works you will again have a similar space available on or near the dike. If you do not now have formal permission for a use (it may be that in the past you have been tolerated to use a piece of dike), then HHNK and the municipality will examine whether this can still be arranged in an agreement within the applicable rules. For example: it may be that you will soon receive a lease for the piece of land you were using, so that this is legally anchored. 

Removal and reassignment

If your belongings must be temporarily removed during the work, you will be notified in a timely manner. You may remove what you can yourself; if not, the contractor can help and, for example, safely store and replace your shed or fencing. After completion of the project, everything that can be returned will be neatly placed back (by yourself or with help from the contractor) on the new dike.

Yes, all houseboats and barges in the project will be connected to a pressurized sewer system of the municipality of Zaanstad. This means that the wastewater from the houseboats and barges will soon be discharged into the sewer system. On the shore at a number of central points, there will be sewer connection points with a small sump that pumps the wastewater to the central discharge line. These sump pumps will be placed in a logical and accessible location as much as possible, in consultation with the houseboat owner. For the residents, this means an improvement in hygiene and environment, without them having to pay for the connection themselves (the costs are part of the project). Adjustments must also be made in the houseboats and arks to be connected to the sewage system, these costs are to be borne by the owners themselves.

In what way will the sewer connection be made?

Each houseboat will have a connection manhole into which the water from the houseboat is discharged. From there, the water flows under free decay to a central pumping well that forces the water into the sewer.

For objects on and around the dike and the water, the normal rules of HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad apply after the dike reinforcement.

Berth permit

All residents of the houseboats and boats have a mooring permit. This will be issued 1 to 1 at the temporary moorings and also at the time they are returned to the old situation. 

From HHNK, as a houseboat or park resident, you need an environmental permit for water activity and a rental agreement. 

Environmental permit water activity

HHNK (as manager of the water barrier) requires a so-called environmental permit water activity (formerly called a water permit) for every object on or adjacent to the dike. This concerns the presence of, for example, your ark, scaffolding, poles or sheds on the water barrier. Currently, most residents do not have such a permit, but in conjunction with this project, these permits will be issued. 

Rental agreement

In addition, HHNK is the legal owner of the water and a strip of land under/next to the dike. Therefore, a lease agreement will be drawn up for its use. This stipulates which part you have the use of (for example, the water plot where your ark is located and a strip of land for your garden or shed). There are costs associated with this lease (an annual rent). HHNK will engage an independent appraiser to determine a fair rent per location based on the number of m² in use. For existing residents, there will be a phase-in arrangement - this means that one will not pay the full rent overnight, but will be introduced gradually. Important: once you have entered into the new lease, HHNK will also grant the water permit free of charge (no separate fees will be charged). HHNK and the municipality will facilitate this process as much as possible and support you with the necessary steps (e.g. help with the preparation of the situation drawing required for the permit).

Certainly. Various ecological and tree surveys are already taking place during the planning phase in order to Map any protected animals or plants, for example. During implementation we will take measures to protect the ecology where necessary. Examples include planning certain work outside the breeding season, placing fauna facilities, or temporarily relocating animals when appropriate. Also, the existing dike ditch adjacent to the Noordervaart dike will be fully preserved - the waterway will remain in its current form and will be improved if possible (for example, by protecting banks with clay and Prolock shoring, as has been done previously elsewhere along the route). Furthermore, cables and pipes in the dike will remain untouched as much as possible to limit damage to the surrounding area. All these aspects are integrated into the project plan to achieve a sustainable end result.

Yes, residents are actively involved and have formal opportunities to participate. During the design phase, the project team organizes moments to contribute ideas - for example, people were already able to respond to the sketch design and a public participation moment will follow at the preliminary design. Here suggestions for improvements or points of interest can be introduced. In addition, the project is going through a legal procedure: as soon as the design is finalized and the permit applications are in progress, the project plan and the permits will be made available for inspection. Interested parties (such as local residents) will then have the opportunity to submit views or later object to the permit. HHNK and the municipality will inform residents about this through the usual channels (post or e-mail). Even outside these formal frameworks, you can always raise questions or concerns with the environmental manager. The project team strives to communicate transparently about progress and decisions so that you are not confronted with surprises.

HHNK and the Municipality of Zaanstad will keep you regularly informed through letters, residents' evenings and updates on the project website. Important milestones and decisions will be actively communicated. You can always contact the project's environmental manager for more information or with questions. You can reach him via the contact form on this website or by e-mail at projectNNV@hhnk.nl (project Nauernasche Vaart). During construction, the contractor will also have a point of contact for direct neighbors. Do not hesitate to get in touch; we are open to your questions and comments and will be happy to help you.