Dike reinforcement Noordervaartdijk (section 2 Nauernasche Vaart West)

The dike will be raised by approximately 20 cm to bring it back up to the required height. This will bring the dike into line with national standards for water safety.

On the side of the Nauernasche Vaart canal—where the houseboats and barges are moored—a new steel sheet pile wall will be installed in front of the existing sheet pile wall. This construction will reinforce the dike on the waterfront and prevent instability. The new sheet pile wall 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 installed in areas where houseboats/ark boats are moored. Where there are no houseboats, an underwater slope and a jetty for pleasure boats will be installed.

On the side of the houses, a revetment (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 with soil (a support berm) to provide extra stability—this will be assessed for each location and designed accordingly. In addition, all houses, houseboats, and barges connected to this dike will be connected to a new pressure sewer pipe. Each house will have a pump pit that pumps the wastewater to the pressure pipe; the exact location 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 approximately 3.50metre. This will improve traffic safety and flow for local traffic. The road will retain its status as a bicycle path with local traffic: it will therefore remain a quiet road for residents, cyclists, moped riders, and local traffic. The black posts that are currently in place will not be included in the new design. The existing street lighting will be reinstalled and evenly distributed, with the addition of a few extra light poles where necessary for safety.

All current parking spaces on the dike will be reinstated after the redevelopment. Municipal parking standards will be taken into account; this means that the current parking spaces will be reinstated on a one-to-one basis and that consideration will be given to asphalting some parking spaces that are currently covered with mats. Places on the dike that are currently covered with road plates or mats (for example, to allow vehicles to turn around) will be paved or better designed where possible. The possibilities will be examined for each location and customized solutions will be provided. In addition, the dike crest will be redesigned in consultation with residents—this could include walking paths, benches, or greenery on top of the dike, where the situation allows.

A jetty will be constructed in the water at the locations where small recreational boats are currently moored along the water's edge. In the future, boats will be able to moor safely here 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 of these studies will be incorporated into the final design, so that natural values and technical considerations are taken into account. Where necessary, protective measures will be taken during implementation (e.g., planning outside breeding seasons or sparing valuable trees). HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad will inform residents of important results from these studies.

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

Access will be more difficult for residents living on the water (houseboats/floating homes) during the work: all houseboats and floating homes in the work area will have to be temporarily relocated to another mooring 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 a major undertaking and will work with the contractor to ensure that this temporary relocation proceeds as smoothly as possible.

Temporary moorings will be set up in the vicinity on the Nauernasche Vaart canal for the approximately 16 houseboats/floating homes on this section of the dike. The exact location is still under investigation. HHNK and the municipality are considering various alternative locations. All basic amenities will be guaranteed at the temporary moorings, just as they are now: there will be connections for water, electricity, and internet/TV. These amenities will be arranged by the project and will not entail any additional costs for the residents. The period at the temporary location is expected to last a few months at most, depending on how the contractor organizes the work.

The relocation (towing) and mooring of the houseboats and barges will be coordinated by a specialized company, Bakker Maritiem Service. This company has extensive experience in the safe towing of houseboats. An independent inspection plan will also be drawn up for each houseboat and barge. Insurance during towing will be arranged centrally by the project. This means you do not have to take care of the insurance or the costs of towing yourself – this is part of the project. However, residents must also report the work to their insurance company.

Once the dike reinforcement has been completed, the houseboats will return to their permanent moorings along the renovated dike. Because the new steel sheet piling will be placed in front of the old sheet piling, the boats will end up slightly closer to the quay than before. The existing mooring posts in the water will probably be able to remain in place. However, HHNK inspectors must always be able to walk along the sheet piling for inspection purposes.

Along the dike, some houseboat residents have a small garden, shed, terrace, or parking space on the bank. HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad will discuss this personally with the residents concerned. The basic principle is that if you licence an official lease or licence for use of the dike strip, you will be given a similar opportunity on or near the dike after the dike reinforcement. If you do not currently have formal authorisation licence) for such a facility, we will examine whether this can still be established within the regulations, for example through a new (lease) agreement.

Objects on the dike that need to be removed during the work (e.g., decking, steps, storage areas) will be reported in good time. You will be notified in advance so that you can remove your belongings yourself; if this is not possible, the contractor can do this for you. After the work is completed, everything will be returned to the dike (if permitted); the contractor can assist with the return, but only if a new agreement or licence has licence issued. The project will take care of storing these decking, steps, and storage units.

During construction, general nuisance such as construction traffic, noise pollution, vibrations, and possible mud or dust must be taken into account. To limit the nuisance, the intention is to use water transport for deliveries and removals as much as possible. Heavy construction equipment on the narrow peat dike itself is preferably avoided due to its limited load-bearing capacity (there is already an axle load restriction of 5 tons, which will remain in place in the future). As a result, the dike will not be continuously burdened by heavy traffic during the execution. Despite all measures, local residents will notice the work. HHNK/the municipality of Zaanstad and the contractor are coordinating the phasing as much as possible to ensure accessibility and are trying to cluster noisy or disruptive work. If you have specific concerns or points of attention (e.g., regarding vibrations near your property), you can always report this to the environmental manager—we will try to offer customized solutions where possible.

Residents are expressly invited to contribute their ideas during the design phase. Various responses were already gathered during the residents' meeting in December 2024. There are still a number of opportunities to respond, such as to the preliminary design. Any input on the layout of the dike (such as benches, greenery, or parking layout) is welcome and can be incorporated into the design where feasible. One-on-one meetings are also planned during the implementation preparation phase (later in 2025) to discuss individual wishes or concerns. Formally, you can also lodge an objection as part of the permit procedure as soon as the permits are available for inspection. HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad will inform those involved about how and when this will take place, so that you can exercise your right to participate.

The current schedule envisages a start to the implementation work in 2027, after completion of the design, permits, and tendering process. The dike reinforcement will take approximately 1.5 to 2 years. The project on the Noordervaartdijk is expected to be completed in 2029. Please note that this schedule is indicative; unforeseen circumstances (such as longer permit procedures or setbacks during implementation) may cause delays. Residents will be kept informed of any significant changes to the schedule.

Legal safety checks have shown that the Noordervaartdijk is too low and unstable in places. In particular, its inward stability (the strength of the dike towards the land side) is inadequate, which could lead to subsidence or even collapse of the dike at high water levels. Reinforcement is necessary to comply with the standard and to continue to protect the surrounding polders from water from the Nauernasche Vaart. HHNK regularly inspects its dikes and takes action where necessary to guarantee the safety of residents.

Yes, the dike will be raised by approximately 20 cm compared to the current situation. In addition, the top will be slightly widened; the road on the crest will soon have a width of approximately 3.5metre. On the water side (reservoir side), a new steel sheet pile wall will be installed just in front of the old shoreline. On the land side, plastic revetment (sheet pile wall) will be installed along the entire length for reinforcement. Visually, the dike will look similar to how it does now, albeit slightly higher. The road will remain a quiet path for local traffic and cyclists and moped riders. 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 be retained and, where possible, new features such as benches or greenery will be added in consultation with the local community.

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

Yes. The houses on the land side will remain accessible as much as possible, although it may happen that you are temporarily unable to reach your property by car, motorcycle, or bicycle. In such cases, you will always be able to walk there. Houseboats and boats will have to be temporarily relocated. However, you will continue to live in your own houseboat or boat during this period, albeit at a different location on the waterway. The temporary location will be made easily accessible (via footbridges or pontoons) so that you can board safely. Once your houseboat or houseboat has been returned to its permanent location after completion of the dike reinforcement, normal accessibility will be restored.

The houseboats and barges will be given temporary moorings a little further along 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 designated.

These facilities will be fully arranged by the project. The temporary moorings will have connections for drinking water, electricity, and gas, just like your permanent mooring. Telecommunications facilities will also be provided so that you can continue to use television and the internet (the technical details are still being investigated, but the starting point is that you will remain connected at a similar level to now). The costs of these temporary connections and their relocation will be borne by the project – you will not pay anything extra for this.

HHNK/Municipality of Zaanstad are outsourcing the relocation of the houseboats and barges to an experienced maritime company (Bakker Maritiem Service) that specializes in this field. Each houseboat and barge will be inspected in advance and a plan will be drawn up to safely detach, transport, and moor them again. The relocation will also be carried out with great care and at a slow pace.

As short as possible, but expect several months to a maximum of one year. The total implementation period is approximately 18-24 months, but this also 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 return them immediately afterwards. The exact duration depends in part 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 return will take place as quickly as safely possible once the dike and quay construction are complete.

All personal facilities on or next to the dike will be mapped out and discussed with you before work begins. Do you have an official lease or licence , for example, a small garden, a shed, or your own parking space on the dike? Then the starting point is that after the dike reinforcement, you will again have access to a similar space on or near the dike. If you do not currently have formal authorisation use (it may be that in the past you were tolerated using a section of the dike), HHNK and the municipality will examine whether this can still be arranged in an agreement within the applicable rules. For example, you may soon receive a lease for the piece of land you were using, so that this is legally established. 

Removal and replacement

If your belongings need to be temporarily removed during the work, you will be notified in good time. You may remove whatever 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 replaced (by yourself or with the help of the contractor) on the new dike.

Yes, all houseboats and barges in the project will be connected to a pressure sewer system operated by the municipality of Zaanstad. This means that wastewater from the houseboats and barges will soon be discharged into the sewer system. Sewage connection points with a small pump pit will be installed at a number of central locations on the riverbank to pump the wastewater to the central pressure pipe. These pump pits will be placed in logical and accessible locations as much as possible, in consultation with the houseboat owners. For residents, this means improved hygiene and a better environment, without having to pay for the connection themselves (the costs are part of the project). Modifications will also need to be made to the houseboats and barges in order to connect them to the sewer system; these costs will be borne by the owners themselves.

How is the sewer connection made?

Each houseboat has a connection point into which the water from the houseboat is discharged. From there, the water flows by gravity to a central pump pit, which pumps 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.

Mooring permit

All residents of houseboats and boats have a mooring permit. These will be issued on a one-to-one basis for temporary moorings and also when these are returned to their previous location. 

As a houseboat or ark resident, HHNK requires you to have an environmental permit for water activities and a rental agreement. 

Environmental permit for water activities

HHNK (as the flood defense administrator) requires a so-called environmental permit for water activities (previously known as a water permit) for every object on or near the dike. This concerns the presence of, for example, your houseboat, jetties, posts, or sheds on the flood defense. Currently, most residents licence have such licence , but these permits will be issued in connection with this project. 

Lease 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 agreement will specify which part you have in use (for example, the water plot where your houseboat is located and a strip of land for your garden or storage shed). There are costs associated with this lease (an annual rent). HHNK will engage an independent appraiser to determine a fair rent for each location based on the number of square meters in use. For existing residents, there will be a phased-in arrangement, which means that the full rent will not be paid overnight, but will be introduced gradually. Important: once you have signed the new lease agreement, 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 in the necessary steps (e.g., helping to draw up the site plan licence for the licence ).

Certainly. Various ecological and tree surveys are carried out during the planning phase to identify any protected animals or plants, for example. During implementation, we will take measures where necessary to protect the ecology. This includes planning certain activities outside the breeding season, installing wildlife facilities, or temporarily relocating animals if necessary. The existing dike ditch next to the Noordervaartdike will also be fully preserved—the waterway will remain in its current form and will be improved where possible (for example, by protecting the banks with clay and Prolock revetment, as has been done elsewhere in the project). Furthermore, cables and pipes in the dike will remain untouched as much as possible to limit damage to the environment. All these aspects will be 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 opportunities for residents to contribute their ideas—for example, they were able to respond to the preliminary design, and there will be another opportunity to participate when the provisional design is ready. This will be a chance to submit suggestions for improvements or points of attention. In addition, the project is subject to a legal procedure: once the design is final and the permit applications are in progress, the project plan and permits will be made available for inspection. Interested parties (such as immediate neighbors) will then have the opportunity to submit their views or later object to the licence. HHNK and the municipality will inform residents about this through the usual channels (post or email). Even outside these formal frameworks, you can always raise any questions or concerns with the environmental manager. The project team strives to communicate transparently about progress and decisions, so that you will not be faced with any surprises.

HHNK and the municipality of Zaanstad will keep you regularly informed via letters, residents' evenings, and updates on the project website. Important milestones and decisions will be actively communicated. For more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the project's environmental manager. You can reach them via the contact formon this website or by email at projectNNV@hhnk.nl (Nauernasche Vaart project). During construction, the contractor will also have a point of contact for immediate neighbors. Please do not hesitate to contact us; we are open to your questions and comments and will be happy to help you.