Strengthen
Flood defenses that have been rejected because they no longer meet safety standards must be strengthened to provide adequate protection against flooding in the future. For primary defenses we have the so-called High Water Protection Program (HWBP) and for regional defenses we have the Improvement of the Boezemkades (VBK) program.
High Water Protection Program (HWBP).
Hollands Noorderkwartier is surrounded by water. The primary flood defenses protect us from this water. The reinforcements of primary defenses such as the Markermeer dikes and the Wadden Sea dike Texel are part of the High Water Protection Program, a program in which the national government and water boards work intensively together to protect the Netherlands from flooding.
Program to improve buoy embankments (CBK).
The basin water in the canals, polders and lakes is surrounded by regional defenses: hundreds of kilometers of dikes, dams, quays, embankments, pumping stations and locks. To withstand subsidence and climate change, we are reinforcing the storage basin dikes. In this way we will also keep our feet dry in the future. Various projects are underway within the Improvement of the storage basin quays program. You can view the projects per municipality on the page Work in the neighbourhood.
Dike reinforcement is customized
Not all dikes are the same. Moreover, dikes are in different areas. We have to deal with buildings and activities, nature, cultural history and the subsoil of a dike. But also with cables, pipes, roads, cycle paths and footpaths. A dyke reinforcement project is therefore always customized; we have to puzzle out the most feasible and affordable solution.
We prefer to reinforce a dike with the same material. A clay dike, for example, should ideally be reinforced with clay. If there is no room to make a dike higher and wider - for example, because of buildings along the dike - we can make a sheet pile wall or concrete structure. However, this is more expensive and less sustainable than a solution in soil.
Environmental cooperation
In protecting our area, we use the expertise of engineering firms, knowledge institutions, the Department of Public Works, and other water boards. We also cooperate with other authorities, such as municipalities and the province. The State plays a major role as supervisor and as partner in HWBP projects, in VBK projects it is the Province of North Holland. We also work together with civil society organizations, interest groups, entrepreneurs, etc. We work on water safety for citizens with citizens' tax money. Management, maintenance and reinforcement of dikes takes place in this way.
Because dike reinforcement can have major consequences, we involve the surrounding area in the plans at an early stage. We organize meetings and visit local residents. We also consult with the municipality and other organizations such as PWN or nature organizations that play a role. Before a dike reinforcement plan becomes final, everyone can view it and have their say.