Wadden Sea dyke - Texel
Our climate is changing, sea levels are rising, it is raining more often, the ground is sinking, and we are experiencing more frequent flooding. If we do nothing, Texel, which lies largely below sea level, will be flooded. The Wadden Sea dyke protects Texel from high water from the Wadden Sea. That is why a total of 18 kilometre was reinforced on Texel between 2017 and 2019. At the same time, three pumping stations were renovated. During the dyke reinforcement work, as much consideration as possible was given to the nature reserves and the environment surrounding the dyke.
During the implementation of the project, there were a few locations with limited space to work in, which presented a challenge. Together with the surrounding community, we managed to complete the work successfully and on schedule.
Lancasterdijk along Utopia and Wagejot
At this location, reinforcing the dike was quite a puzzle. Texel has many breeding and migratory birds that you want to disturb as little as possible. Not disturbing them is impossible, which leaves only a few weeks per year to work. Thanks to the exemption received, work was carried out on the dike near Wagejot during the breeding season. This proved to be a good combination, because in 2018, 2,562 breeding pairs of sandwich terns were counted.
Oudeschild harbor dam
The dike between the harbor and the village had to be made higher and stronger. A higher dike requires more space, and that space was not available. Therefore, it was decided to reinforce both the dike and the harbor dam. Due to the limited space, it was decided to reinforce the dike with sheet piling that is completely hidden within the dike. The harbor dam and the dike together provide the necessary protection against storms. In very heavy storms, the harbor dam breaks the waves and the dike can remain lower.
Seawall 't Horntje
't Horntje is a unique location where several types of dikes converge. At the end of the 1970s, the Inlaagdijk and Prins Hendrikdijk dikes were reinforced, leaving the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) outside the dike system. During the dike reinforcement project of 2017-2019, it was decided to reinforce the foreland barrier of the 't Horntje polder, which became the primary barrier, thus bringing the NIOZ inside the dike. The Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Board is surrounded by water. The primary water barriers protect us from this water. The reinforcement of the Wadden Sea dike is part of the Flood Protection Program (HWBP): a programme the national government and water boards work closely together to protect the Netherlands against flooding. During construction, the water board worked closely with residents, interest groups, the municipality of Texel, the province of North Holland, the HWBP, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and Combinatie Tessel.