The storms of earlier this year prove that a wider row of dunes is indispensable for a safe coast. That is what a spokesperson for the Rijnland Water Board says to Broadcasting West† The Netherlands had to deal with four storms in January and February: Corrie, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin.
According to the Water Board, it is therefore necessary that beach pavilions move four meters towards the sea by 2024. This gives the natural dune growth ample scope. The beach tent owners don’t like that.
The beach pavilions in the area of the Hoogheemraadschap were allowed to remain this winter – just like last year – due to corona. The four-metre displacement was included as a condition in the permit required for this.
“The pavilions are allowed to overwinter, but we see that the natural dune growth is hindered by the pavilions,” reports the spokesperson. Normally a ten meter high dune grows about two meters in width. “That is simply less around the pavilions.”
Extra cost
The beach pavilion owners are outraged: they do not want to be closer to the sea. Some have therefore objected. “That means that we have to put everything forward,” says Wouter van Vessem of BEACH Noordwijk. “Not only the building, but also the entire infrastructure of sewerage and pipes under the pavilion has to be moved. As a result, we get an additional cost item.”
“In addition, it is not true at all that the dunes grow less behind the pavilions,” says the beach tent owner. “The dunes have grown the same for years.”
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