Zoutkamp Celebrates Completion of the Nieuwe Waterwerken with a Festive Weekend
With an open-air concert and an Open Day, the Nieuwe Waterwerken project in Zoutkamp was officially completed last weekend. Het Hogeland Council, the Groningen provincial executive, and Noorderzijlvest Water Authority marked an important step in improving water safety and quality of life in the village. The concert featuring Marlene Bakker and the Noordpool Orchestra followed the official closing ceremony, during which Dyke Reeve Roeland van der Schaaf, deputy Erik Jan Bennema, and councilor Bernd de Jong, on behalf of water authority, the province, and council, ceremonially handed the village of Zoutkamp back to the new shrimp queen, Reiny Toxopeus. A day later, the Nieuwe Waterwerken could be viewed from water and land during the Open Day.
Open-air concert and Open Day
The festive closing ceremony began with the arrival of the Shrimp Queen by boat, accompanied by the Zoutkamp Smartlappen Choir. After a brief ceremony and a recitation by “Poet of the Hogeland” Harry van Velsen, the village was symbolically returned by raising the Zoutkamp flag. This was followed by a concert by Marlene Bakker and the Noordpool Orchestra, conducted by Reinout Douma. During the Open Day the following day, visitors could explore the Nieuwe Waterwerken on foot or by boat, including the new pumping station, the bicycle bridge, and mooring facilities. The grounds also featured stands and activities for all ages.
Opportunities for Zoutkamp and the surrounding area
The festivities marked the completion of the project Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp (Zoutkamp hydraulic-engineering works), which began in 2023. With this project, the provincial executive, council, and water authority worked together to improve water and traffic safety, the economy, quality of life, and the ecology in Zoutkamp and the surrounding area, and to stimulate tourism. The immediate reason for the work in Zoutkamp was the need to build a new pumping station at the Hunsingo lock. Due to climate change, heavy downpours can occur in a short period of time. To manage this, capacity is needed to drain water more quickly via lake Lauwersmeer to the sea.
Dyke Reeve Roeland van der Schaaf:
“With the Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp (Zoutkamp hydraulic-engineering works) we are better prepared for extreme weather and rising water levels. This project demonstrates how smart investments help us keep our region safe with a good quality of life, both now and in the future.”
Creating work through work
This necessity presented opportunities for infrastructure projects in and around Zoutkamp, in collaboration with council and the the provincial executive. The construction of the new electrically powered Hunsingo pumping station —with a capacity of 1,600 m³ per minute—and the reinforcement of the regional flood defence were carried out and the historic Hunsingo lock was restored and converted into navigation lock for recreational boating. Furthermore, a new bicycle bridge over the Reitdiep on the southwest side of the village has been constructed. Several pedestrian bridges have been built, bicycle paths, and new mooring facilities have been added. Starting as a water safety project, the Nieuwe Waterwerken evolved into a heritage-inclusive area-wide project in which water safety is combined with quality of lif, heritage, nature, and recreation. Provincial Executive Member Erik Jan Bennema stated that:
“This project is a great example of how we work in Groningen: together. We have integrated flood protection with infrastructure, spatial quality, and economic opportunities. In doing so, we are not only strengthening the dykes, but also the future of the entire region.”
Collaboration is the key to success
The key to the project’s ultimate success is the collaboration between the provincial executive, council, and the water authority, the contractors, and the residents of Zoutkamp. A construction team was formed with general contractor Strukton as early as the planning phase. This allowed plans to be modified on time where necessary to prevent delays later in the construction process. The residents of Zoutkamp were also able to have a say in the plans at an early stage, which led to positive results. All the work in and around the village has taken a heavy toll on the community in recent years. With the completion of the project, the end of the construction work is truly in sight. Councilor Bernd de Jong adds that:
“The Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp (Zoutkamp hydraulic-engineering works) will provide a major boost to Zoutkamp. The village will become more attractive to residents, businesses, and visitors. We are not only building safety here, but also a vibrant and welcoming community.”
Financing
Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, the Groningen provincial executive, and the Hogeland council have contributed 46 million euro. In addition, the project has received 18 million euro in co-funding from the National Programme Groningen, the Wadden Fund, the Heritage Deal, and the Subsidence Commission.
