Mowing roadside verges
Three rounds of mowing for traffic safety
From May to September, we mow the verges along our roads and cycle paths. We only do this along the roads maintained by HHNK. These are the roads outside the built-up areas of Purmerend and Waterland. We mow the verges for traffic safety; clear visibility is important for everyone on the road. This allows us to see each other and take each other into account. We mow with respect for flora and fauna. Where it is responsible to do so, we keep the verges flowery.
We mow in three rounds. We start with a so-called 'safety round', in which we mow one to one and a half metre either side of the pavement and the entire intersections. We also mow around traffic control objects, such as traffic signs, safety barriers, and bollards. This round lasts from approximately May 15 to June 1.
Next, in the second round of six weeks, from June 1 to July 15, we will mow the verges where necessary for traffic safety and for maintaining the roadside ditch. At one location, this means the entire verge, while at another location we will only mow part of it. The third round is from August 24 to October 1. During this period, we will mow the verges in their entirety.
Different mowing techniques
The code of conduct also applies to mowing verges. We always mow one to one and a half metre either side of the road. In the rest of the verge, we leave half of the vegetation standing during the second mowing round. Where possible, we remove the clippings so that the soil does not become suffocated. In this way, we encourage biodiversity. If trees or buried cables cause an obstruction, we leave the clippings where they are.
Conflicting desires
We do our best to accommodate everyone's wishes as much as possible. Sometimes interests conflict, which means we cannot always satisfy everyone. We also cannot be everywhere at once during our mowing rounds. We ask for your understanding in this matter. Our area managers are supervisors and points of contact for explanations about our mowing management.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the water board at 072 582 8282.
For more information (including about mowing dikes and waterways), see theMowing page.
