Sponsland exhibition at Noorderzijlvest

In Groningen’s culturally and historically rich landscape, we are on the brink of major changes—changes driven by climate change. The traveling exhibition Sponsland shows us what our world might look like in 100 years when sea levels rise and extreme rainstorms lead to flooding. When heat makes cities unpleasant places to live. 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 will be on view from March 22 through 30 during opening hours at Noorderzijlvest Water Authority. There, visitors will also be able to see how the water authority 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 Groningen

The "Sponsland" exhibition is part of "Climate Adaptation Groningen," with the changing climate and its consequences as one of its key themes. It is an initiative of the Global Center on Adaptation and the Groningen Agreement—comprising the Province of Groningen, council , the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Alfa College, Noorderpoort, and the University Medical Center Groningen—in collaboration with the National Program Groningen.

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