Harbor Dike Den Oever

Our climate is changing: sea levels are rising, it rains more often, the ground is sinking, and we are experiencing more frequent flooding. If we do nothing, North Holland, which lies largely below sea level, will be flooded. That is why it is important that we maintain, manage, and, where necessary, improve 1,400 kilometre and dunes along the coast, along canals and lakes, and around polders. The Havendijk in Den Oever protects Den Oever and the hinterland against high water and extreme weather conditions. This dike was reinforced between 2016 and 2019 to ensure that everyone can continue to live, work, and enjoy recreational activities 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 the quay walls, are visible. Other parts, such as the large steel screen that has been installed in the dike on the village side, are located inside the dike. The screens and sheet piling on the inside and outside of the dike are connected to each other 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 customized stepped covering, a grandstand.

The grandstand

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

Basalt walls

Until 2017, this dike had basalt cladding on the harbor side. Basalt walls have been reinstalled in the harbor to restore its original appearance. This is clearly visible in the historic corner of the fishing harbor, where the water level gauge building is also located. The building and the accompanying water level gauge are elements from the history of water management in North Holland, in particular the control of the water level for dike monitoring.

With an eye for the environment: working with the store open and De Coupure

During the dike reinforcement, work was carried out while the store remained open. The work was carried out in phases in consultation with the local community. This was a conscious decision to ensure that work in Den Oever could continue. All access roads to the port were repaired, but sufficient access roads to the port remained open at all times so that businesses could continue to operate.

The coupure in Den Oever is the connection between the village and the harbor area. The coupure has been fitted with a double set of wooden doors. The doors are closed at high tide. The doors are four metre and weigh over 2,000 kg each. As part of the dike reinforcement, the bridge over the coupure was completed in 2019. The name for the bridge, 'De Coupure', was devised by the residents of Den Oever.

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