€190 million for safe drinking water: historic decision

Historic decision

Never before has the general board invested such a large amount in water safety in a single meeting. 
The decision comes 70 years after the flood disaster of 1953 and more than 50 years after the closure of the Lauwerszee. The closure meant a huge change in the way fishing was carried out in Zoutkamp. Now, decades later, Noorderzijlvest is once again taking care of water safety in this northwestern part of our working area.

This substantial investment has been allocated to strengthening the 9-kilometer-long sea dyke between Lauwersoog and the Westpolder on the one hand, and to increasing the drainage capacity at Zoutkamp on the other. These investments are of great importance for protecting the province against flooding and waterlogging.

€136 million for dyke reinforcement Lauwersmeer dyke-Vierhuizergat

Between 2023 and 2026, the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority will reinforce the sea dike between Lauwersoog and the Westpolder. The general board has made the necessary credit of €136 million available for the project. This credit will be used to reinforce the 7-kilometer-long sea dike, the 2-kilometer-long harbor dike, and the western harbor dam. Once reinforced, the dike will once again meet safety requirements, ensuring that we remain 'climate-proof' and protected against higher sea levels and extreme weather. The project is part of the national Flood Protection Program (HWBP), the largest dike reinforcement operation since the Delta Works. 

Most sustainable dike

The sea dike towards Westpolder and along the Vierhuizergat will be raised and reinforced with clay and stone cladding. Material from the current dike will be reused and any new material required will come from the region. A promenade will also be built along the harbor, a cycle path and a Wadden Sea viewing platform on the rural dike along the Vierhuizergat. In the harbor, the dike will be reinforced and raised with sheet piling. During implementation, explicit attention will be paid to the reuse of materials and the reduction of emissions. Part of the credit covers the costs of using emission-free electric equipment and renewable, fossil-free HVO diesel. All this will enable the water board to reduce CO2 emissions from this dike reinforcement by up to 95%. Contractor Combinatie Waddenkwartier, a joint venture between GMB and Heijmans, is carrying out the dike reinforcement.

Dike with extras for nature, traffic, and recreation

By reinforcing the dike, we are also strengthening the Wadden Sea nature, traffic safety, and recreation around the dike. This involves the construction of a second access road, with the municipality of Het Hogeland, to the port of Lauwersoog with the municipality. And for nature, the construction of a natural transition from the dike to the Wadden Sea, a natural salt marsh, and a dike passage with a transition area. We are realizing these extras together with the municipality of Het Hogeland, the province of Groningen, Rijkswaterstaat, and Groninger Landschap, also on behalf of nature organizations Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer, and Natuur en Milieufederatie Groningen. 

€54 million for new waterworks in Zoutkamp

With the general board's approval of the €54 million loan, the way is now clear for the construction of a new pumping station near the Hunsingo lock. Renovation and restoration of this historic lock in Zoutkamp is also part of the plans. Furthermore, the old sea dike will be reinforced as a regional flood barrier, and the bank protection on the north and south banks of the Hunsingo Canal will be replaced. The current H.D. Louwes pumping station will lose its function. These measures are part of the 'Dry Feet 2050 measures' and are necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change until 2050. The project will be completed in 2025.

Opportunities for the economy, quality of life, cultural history, recreation, and tourism

In addition to plans to ensure water safety, there are also additional opportunities for Zoutkamp and the surrounding area. Under the name 'Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp' (New Waterworks Zoutkamp), Noorderzijlvest is working with the province of Groningen and the municipality of Het Hogeland to improve traffic safety. These partners are also working to preserve cultural history and strengthen the livability and economy of Zoutkamp. This means not only a new pumping station near the Hunsingosluis, but also the conversion of the historic Hunsingosluis in the former sea dike into a lock. This will restore the old sea dike's regional flood control function. In addition, water and traffic safety will be improved, the tourist and recreational opportunities around Lauwersmeer will be expanded, and recreational boating towards Hogeland and the city of Groningen will be strengthened.

€3.8 million for new Oldenoord pumping station

The Oldenoord pumping station was built in 1984 to temporarily mitigate the effects of land subsidence. Oldenoord drains the Hogepandstermaar and Startenhuistermaar. The water drains into the Boterdiep, which is part of the first shell of the Electraboezem. Land subsidence will continue for some time. To mitigate the effects of land subsidence, the Den Deel (1993) and Usquert (2014) pumping stations were built over time.

In 2021, the water level decision for the first shell of the Electraboezem was finalized. The function of the Oldenoord pumping station was re-examined in that process and discussed with the local community. The water board is now proposing to make €3.8 million available to replace the pumping station. This proposal has broad support in the local community: maintaining the target water level that Oldenoord has been providing for a long time is highly desirable for land users in the area. The new pumping station will be equipped with a fish passage and an inlet facility. Fish will be able to migrate from the Boterdiep to the Hogepandstermaar. The inlet facility will allow us to raise the water level in dry periods.