Deltares: New Nature in New Meuse River

Under the umbrella of the Ecoshape partnership, Deltares will be starting this year on greening the banks of the New Meuse river in Rotterdam.

On 16 March, Ecoshape signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect with nine other parties. Ecoshape is involved with this program on the basis of the Ecoshape Knowledge Valorisation EFRO project: Building with Nature in the city, a project involving Ecoshape, Deltares, Witteveen en Bos, and the Dordrecht and Rotterdam city authorities.

By placing the first rocks and sand, Joost Eerdmans (councilor Security,Enforcement and Outdoor Space), Han Weber (Deputy Green, Water, Coastal and Cultural Heritage and Media), Peter Mollema (Member management team Port of Rotterdam) and Marco Zeeman (Director of Rijkswaterstaat) signed on 16 March the start of the project near the Mallegat tidal park.

In the months to come, and in consultation with local residents, an idea will be worked out based on the construction of a groyne. In the shelter of the groyne, sludge will accumulate, allowing for the development of new nature.

The Nassau port will follow later in 2015. The first steps in the Green Gateway project were taken in late 2014 near the Rozenburg headland on the New Waterway. This project is also part of the tidal park.

Unique in the Netherlands

This development of a park in a tidal river is the first project of its kind in the Netherlands and so it is a fine example of innovation and inspiration.

More green areas and nature on, in and direct alongside the New Meuse will enhance the recreational facilities in the region and the ecological quality of the river: salmon and sturgeon will swim to and from the sea due to the creation of new resting places and cleaner water.

In addition, a gently sloping riverbank will break waves when water levels are higher, and so the tidal park will also help to make the Rotterdam region more future-robust.