4 million euros for the Aduarderdiep area plan

The general board of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority will meet on February 2. On the agenda is the provision of a €4 million loan for a number of necessary interventions in and around the Aduarderdiep.

In 2021, a series of wishes from local residents and policy intentions from the water board, the province, and the municipality of Westerkwartier were brought together. This area plan brings the integrated approach and financing of all components closer to realization.

By implementing this plan, the water board will ensure:

  • restoring the monumental Aduarderzijlen lock complex;
  • the approach to the three bridges over the old locks.

Nature-friendly banks and navigable depth in order

It is desirable to create nature-friendly banks along the Aduarderdiep. These gently sloping banks promote water quality and biodiversity. In this way, Noorderzijlvest contributes to the objectives for clean and healthy water set out in the European Water Framework Directive. The water board is also responsible for restoring eroding banks along this stretch. In tackling this issue, the water board prefers to construct these nature-friendly banks. There is sufficient space for this here.

At the intersection of the Aduarderdiep and Van Starkenborgh Canal, there is a threshold in the channel. As the waterway manager, the water board must resolve this issue. Therefore, dredging is being carried out here to ensure that the required navigable depth of 1.70 meters is restored.

Plus for the Aduarderzijl area

Finally, there are ideas in the area plan that will provide a 'plus' in and around Aduarderzijl, such as creating a village walk, additional parking facilities, more spacious mooring facilities for recreational boating, a boat ramp, and making the cultural history of this area more visible. The residents have opted for small-scale improvements that are appropriate for the location. Whether and how these ideas will be realized depends on decisions regarding co-financing and subsidies.

The water board plans to start work this year on the restoration of the historic lock complex and the bridges over the locks. The implementation of all the plans in the area plan will continue until 2024.