Water managers finish in Groningen after climate bike ride across the NAP zero meter line


The Climate Classic finished at the headquarters of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority on Monday evening, June 19. This is a bike ride from Breda to Groningen to raise awareness of climate change. The route follows the NAP zero meter line. This is the coastline that will be created if sea levels rise too high. More than 700 participants crossed the finish line. Several water board teams also took part.

Cyclists from Noorderzijlvest have reached the finish line of the Classic Climate. They were welcomed by dike reeve Roeland van der Schaaf and secretary-director Bas Tammes.

Water authorities and climate change

The Climate Classic is an initiative of Cycling4Climate, which organizes cycling events with the aim of raising awareness about the climate crisis and getting people active in a fun way. Dijkgraaf Roeland van der Schaaf of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority: "This initiative shows in an appealing way how you can achieve more by working together. Eight water board relay teams passed a symbolic baton to each other at every water board boundary. This kind of cooperation is also needed in other areas. The water authorities deal with the consequences of climate change every day. Think of periods of prolonged drought and extreme downpours. These will only occur more frequently in the future. Together with other authorities, organizations, and residents, we will have to make careful considerations to keep our area livable." 

Eight water authority teams 

The water authorities along the route each cycled with their own teams. In total, more than 100 employees and board members of water authorities took part in the tour. The first teams started at 5:30 a.m. in Breda. At each water authority boundary, relay teams handed over the baton—a water bottle containing climate pledges—to the next team. Some water board employees cycled the entire 375 km. Others completed part of the route. Eleven water board employees from Noorderzijlvest took part in the tour.

More information

Two students from the Journalism program at the University of Groningen wrote an article and made the video below about the Climate Classic.