Exhibition Sponsland at Noorderzijlvest

In the culturally and historically rich landscape of Groningen, we are on the eve of major changes. Changes that are related to climate change. The traveling exhibition Sponsland shows us what our world could look like in 100 years' time when sea levels rise and extreme rainfall leads to flooding. When heat makes cities unpleasant to live in. What the impact of prolonged drought is on the quality of nature and agricultural production. And what consequences salinization, peat oxidation, and subsidence have on the Groningen countryside. Sponsland can be viewed during opening hours from March 22 to 30 at the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority. There, you can also see how the water authority is working on water in the changing landscape.

Sponge Land

Inspired by contributions from various regional parties, including the Noorderzijlvest and Hunze & Aa’s water boards, landscape architects have looked ahead to the year 2121 for the Sponsland exhibition.  Based on designs for four rural and four urban locations in the northern Netherlands, they visualize what our landscape might look like in 100 years' time, given the changing circumstances. Sponsland zooms in on a section of the Groningen landscape. The journey begins on Schiermonnikoog and goes from the Hogeland to the Reitdiep, via the city center of Groningen and then to the Hondsrug.

Locations

(Parts of) this exhibition will be on display until the end of May 2022.

Locations Sponsland
DateProjectLocation
March 22 - March 30Edible coast
Hundred Water Elements ++Water Heritage
Noorderzijlvest Water Authority
Stedumermaar 1, Groningen
April 4 - April 12Water batteryMunicipality of Midden-Groningen Gorecht-Oost 157, Hoogezand
April 14 - April 25Water batteryMunicipality of Aa’s en Hunze
Spiekersteeg 1, Gieten
April 27 – May 12Water batteryProvince of Drenthe
Westerbrink 1, Assen
May 16 – May 30Edible CoastLauwersnest Activity Center
De Rug 1, Lauwersoog

Climate adaptation in Groningen

The Sponsland exhibition is part of Climate Adaptation Groningen, with climate change and its consequences as one of the key themes. It is an initiative of the Global Center on Adaptation and the Groningen Agreement—consisting of the province of Groningen, the municipality of Groningen, the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Alfa College, Noorderpoort, and UMCG—and in collaboration with the National Program Groningen.

More information can be found at: www.sponsland.nl