Pilot Uitgeester and Heemskerkerbroek
What's going to happen?
In the Uitgeester- and Heemskerkerbroek area, we are going to improve water quality in order to increase biodiversity. Greater biodiversity means that more plants and animals live in and around the water. Clean and healthy water also ensures a pleasant and healthy living environment. Because surface water now contains high levels of nutrients, herbicides, and crop protection products, it is unsuitable for many plants and animals to live in. With this pilot project, we are working with the province to ensure that many stakeholders and water users participate in cleaning up the water in the polder and within the built-up area.
The table below shows the measures we are taking to improve water quality and who is implementing them.
| # | Project name | Objective/description | Performed by |
| 1 | Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management | The Dutch Agricultural and Horticultural Organization (LTO) has drawn up an action plan to work with water boards to achieve cleaner and sufficient water and better soil. Farmers and horticulturalists are voluntarily taking measures on their farms or participating in one of the 500 DAW projects to gain more knowledge. | LTO, KAVB, GTBN |
| 2 | Masterclass "Resilient Cultivation" | Course for farmers and gardeners on crop protection, soil, biodiversity, and resilient cultivation. | LTO, KAVB, GTBN |
| 3 | Water gardens | Peak water storage, biodiversity, and recreation. Design of a rolling landscape with native vegetation where water is allowed to follow its own path. Now complete. | Municipality of Heemskerk |
| 4 | Climate-proof horticultural area in Heemskerk | Construction of a peak water storage facility in Duinvallei opposite the Patatoloog Heemskerk. In design. | Various partners and WFD pilot |
| 5 | Reducing phosphate in surface water | Three tests will be conducted to remove phosphate from the surface water. After that, the best method for this area will be determined. The tests consist of:
| HHNK |
| 6 | Water Day Heemskerk | On May 25, 2024, Water Day Heemskerk will take place for the third time in Assemburg Park for residents. | Municipality of Heemskerk with province and HHNK |
| 7 | "Toxin-free gardening" campaign | Campaign in 2024-2025 to raise awareness among residents about the effects of toxins and encourage toxin-free gardening. | Municipality of Heemskerk, HHNK |
| 8 | Nature-friendly banks | In agricultural and urban areas, research is being conducted to identify opportunities for making riverbanks more nature-friendly, both above and below the water. Reeds and aquatic plants ensure cleaner water and provide shelter for animals and fish. | Municipalities of Heemskerk and Uitgeest, HHNK |
| 9 | Green banks in urban areas | Make urban riverbanks more natural by removing revetments. Opportunities for this exist in Citta Del, among other places. At the Broekpolder, there are opportunities to transform riverbanks along canal quays by means of planters, green walls, floating islands, etc. | Municipalities of Heemskerk and Uitgeest, HHNK |
| 10 | Realization of wet nature connection NNN | Within the Dutch Nature Network, a wet connection from the dunes to the low-lying polders has been identified. In this project, we are facilitating this connection by constructing nature-friendly banks and stepping stones (rest areas for nature along this route). | Municipalities of Heemskerk and Uitgeest, province, HHNK |
| 11 | Impulse Water Quality Impulse Fort Veldhuis | Investigate the cause of poor water quality and take possible measures regarding water quality and dredging. | HHNK, Landscape North Holland |
| 12 | Leaf fall Marquette | Due to the many trees on Marquette, the water was full of leaves and silt. Storms have caused many trees to fall, and dredging has now been carried out, improving the water quality. | PWN, HHNK |
| 13 | Preventing bank erosion | The banks are eroding in various places, including Ham and Crommenije. A revetment will be installed, with holes, creating a marsh area to protect the banks. | HHNK, Landscape North Holland |
| 14 | Fish passages to solve fish migration bottlenecks | Migratory fish are often unable to pass weirs and pumping stations. Fish passages are used to create suitable routes around pumping stations and weirs. The Meldijk pumping station will be the first to be made fish-passable. | HHNK |
| 15 | Water quality monitoring | Throughout the year, we measure all kinds of substances in the water at many points in the area. This allows us to determine whether the water quality is improving as a result of the measures taken. | HHNK |
| 16 | Trial ecological ditch cleaning to increase biodiversity | Farmers clean the entire ditch during the autumn inspection. By cleaning half of it every other year, we hope to achieve greater biodiversity. | HHNK, Water, Land, and Dikes |
| 17 | Research into experiments with hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water, making plants more resilient. | Increase resilience by providing plants with infused water, thereby reducing the use of crop protection products. | To be determined |
Where is the project taking place?
Most of the area is located within the municipality of Heemskerk. Part of it is located in Uitgeest and Beverwijk, see the map. The inner dune edge, which is managed by PWN Water & Nature, is also included.
When will the project take place and how long will it last?
On February 22, 2023, the partners signed a letter of intent in which they expressed their commitment to working together to achieve clean water. The signing marked the start of the pilot. The pilot will last two years, so that we can see the results together in the summer of 2025.
Ditch plans
On behalf of HHNK, the Association for Agricultural Nature and Landscape Management Water, Land, and Dikes (WLD) has started a trial to set up multi-year ecological ditch management in farm ditches by a number of agricultural companies.
By drawing up ditch plans (in collaboration with WLD), the cleaning of the ditches is spread out over several years. This allows the aquatic vegetation to remain on part of the banks and in part of the watercourses, enabling plants and aquatic animals to survive better in winter. This contributes to ecological water quality and biodiversity. The participating farmers receive compensation from the ANLb for implementing these ditch plans. With this trial, we also hope to improve the water quality in the farm ditches. Both HHNK and the farmers will play a role in monitoring the ecological water quality.
Who do we work with?
The pilot is a joint venture between the province of North Holland and the water board. They are leading the pilot and are responsible for its implementation and part of its financing. The partners in this pilot are: Municipality of Heemskerk, Municipality of Uitgeest, LTO Noord, PWN (Puur Water en Natuur), Landschap Noord-Holland, Koninklijke Algemeene Vereeniging van Bloembollencultuur, Glastuinbouw Nederland.
We also involve other parties. These may be other government bodies, but also companies, associations, foundations, and working groups. Anyone who believes they can contribute to cleaning up the surface water in this area is welcome to get in touch via the contact form.
Want to know more?
For more information about this project, please contact us via our contact form or by calling 072 - 582 8282.
What policy underpins the project?
This project is being carried out as part of the package of measures under the Water Framework Directive 3rd plan period. This is part of the agreements made at European level to make surface water cleaner. See the Healthy Water page.