Den Oever harbor dike

Our climate is changing: the sea level is rising, it rains more often, the soil is subsiding and we face more frequent high tides. If we do nothing, North Holland, which is largely below sea level, will be flooded. That is why it is important that we maintain, manage and if necessary improve 1,400 kilometers of dikes and dunes, along the coast, along canals and lakes and around polders. The Harbour Dike in Den Oever protects Den Oever and the hinterland from high water and extreme weather conditions. This dike was reinforced between 2016 and 2019 to ensure that everyone can continue to live, work and recreate here in the future.

Reinforcement with visible and invisible parts

The dike in Den Oever has been reinforced in various ways. Some parts, such as the concrete steps and quay walls are visible. Other parts, such as the large steel screen inserted into the dike on the village side, are inside the dike. The screens and sheet pile walls on the inside and outside of the dike, are connected with anchors. Such measures were necessary to keep the dike stable. The harbor dike in Den Oever has undergone a true metamorphosis. From a green dike to a concrete dike with a specially tailored stepped covering, a stand.

The stand

The stepped lining, or grandstand, is unique in the Netherlands: the steps were specially designed and made for Den Oever. Not only do they break the waves at high tide, together they form a stand that can be used at events or as a viewpoint over the harbor. The stand consists of 2,700 blocks weighing an average of 2,000 kg per block.

Walls of basalt

Until 2017, this dike had basalt revetment on the harbor side. Basalt walls were reinstalled in the harbor to bring back the old look. This is clearly visible in the historic corner of the Vissershaven where the gauge building also stands. The building and the associated gauge building are elements of the history of water control in North Holland, especially the control of the water level for dike monitoring.

Mindful of the environment: working with the store open and The Coupure

During the dike reinforcement, work was done with the store open. Thus the work was carried out in phases in coordination with the environment. A conscious choice so that the work in Den Oever continues. All access roads to the harbor were addressed, but sufficient access roads to the harbor always remained open so that companies could continue their business operations.

The coupure in Den Oever is the connection between the village and the port area. The coupure has been given a double set of wooden doors. At high tide, the doors are closed. The doors are four meters high and weigh over 2,000 kg each. As part of the dike reinforcement, the bridge over the coupure came in 2019. The name for the bridge "De Coupure" was coined by the residents of Den Oever.

Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier is surrounded by water. The primary water defenses protect us from this water. The strengthening of the dike in Den Oever is part of the High Water Protection Program (HWBP): a program in which the national government and water boards work together intensively to protect the Netherlands from flooding. During preparation and implementation, the high water board worked closely with an advisory group consisting of residents, businesses and interest groups, municipality of Hollands Kroon, province of North Holland, HWBP, Ministry of Waterways and Infrastructure and contractor Van Oord.