Nature-Based Coastal Protection in the Netherlands
The Hondsbossche Dunes are an example of a nature-based coastal protection solution to address sea level rise and increasing flood risks in The Netherlands.
The Hondsbossche Dunes are an example of a nature-based coastal protection solution to address sea level rise and increasing flood risks in The Netherlands.
The Netherlands is a low-lying country prone to inland and sea flooding. Sea level rise and
increasing flood risks require constant upgrading of flood protection infrastructure. The Hondsbossche Dunes are an example of a nature-based coastal protection solution addressing these needs.
Constructed after a section of the existing sea dike no longer met Dutch flood safety standards, stakeholders decided that instead of raising the dike, they would build an artificial beach and dune landscape to bolster the existing seawall. Stretching along 7 kilometres of the Dutch North Sea coast between the villages of Petten and Camperduin, the dunes are designed to withstand 1-in-10,000-year storm surge conditions and to resist sea level rise for 50 years.
In partnership with the International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC), we assessed the impact of the Hondsbossche Dunes. While we did not have exact data on potential flood area, our assessment assumes that the dunes protect more than 900 hectares of land, of which more than 60% is used for agriculture.
The beach resort town of Petten is the community most likely to be significantly impacted by flooding, the construction of the dune had a significant impact on the lives of 3,000 residents, not to mention the impacts on other nearby communities and rural areas. There are also considerable impacts for nature and recreation. The beach and dune landscape provides diverse habitats for plants and animals and has other biodiversity impacts, as well as new bike and walking trails.
Our assessment found that:
The Hondsbossche Dunes are a nature-based coastal protection solution in the Netherlands. The artificial dune landscape stretches along 7 kilometres of the Dutch North Sea coast.
In this report we present the results of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of the Hondsbossche Dunes project. The assessment quantifies the ecosystem services and economic impacts of the new dune landscape under several flood scenarios and compares this NBI solution to a conventional dike reinforcement.
We find that under all scenarios, the investment in the artificial sand dunes offers greater net benefits than the grey alternative of building a sheet pile wall.
The NBI Global Resource Centre aims to bring together key partners to establish a business case for Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI).
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