Meet environmental manager Eddi Ottens

Familiar with De Onlanden? 

“Absolutely! In 2012, I was already working at the water authority when the floods hit. Since then, various measures have been taken to prevent flooding. Creating more balancing lakes is one of them. I also have a personal connection to De Onlanden. I live on the edge of the area, go running there, and often cycle through it.” 

What changes will be made to the existing balancing lake?

De Onlanden is already a balancing lake, where water from the higher-lying province of Drenthe flows in naturally during heavy rainfall. Soon, a controlled balancing lake will be added. We are raising the existing embankments so that we can retain extra water within them. We use weirs and pumping stations to make sure the water is collected in a controlled manner and gradually discharged into the sea. De Onlanden can currently collect 7.5 million m³ of water. With the expansion of the balancing lake, the capacity goes up to 12.7 million m³ of water.” 

When will it be ready? 

"All work is expected to be completed in 2027."

How often do we use the additional balancing lake? 

“Only during extreme weather. In such cases, the water remains in the area for several days. Full use is expected to be necessary once every 25 years on average. We may use part of the system once every 10 years.” 

Questions or concerns? 

Eddi is ready to hear from you.
Email: optimalisatieonlanden@noorderzijlvest.nl
Phone: +31 (0)6-51403752