, Netherlands
City population: 488605
Duration: 2011 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Project area: 1280000 m2
Type of area: Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature, Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: November 2021

The Sand Motor is a hook-shaped peninsula that is artificially created at the coast near The Hague in order to protect the coast on the long-term. Not only provides the Sand Motor coastal protection, but it also allows for new forms of recreation and supports biodiversity as it creates habitat and allows for more varieties of species to live in the area. The Sand Motor is a unique pilot project in coastal management and follows the principle of 'building with nature' (1).

Zandmotor
Source: https://dezandmotor.nl/fotos-en-videos/

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Blue infrastructure
  • Coastlines
  • Other

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
  • Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
  • Marine and coastal research and/or education
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Coastal landscape management or protection, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

Project objectives

The goals of the intervention are: 1. Sustainable strengthening of a considerable section of the coast of South Holland and protect the mainland from sea level rise (sustainable because if it is effective, sand replenishment are unnecessary for the coming 20 years). (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 2. Creation of nature and recreational area: the Sand Motor is publicly accessible and allows for recreation such as hiking and surfing, a quiet space where people can relax escaping the busy city. (1) 3. Creation of sustainable coastal protection that promotes biodiversity. Due to the shallow water, new species that are uncommon along the Dutch coast can live on and around the Sand Motor and the vegetation that the Sand Motor creates habitat for species. (2,6,7). 3. Contribution to knowledge and innovation regarding coastal management by means of performing research and publicly reporting results (1,7). 4. Maintenance the quality and quantity of drinking water (this should not be negatively affected by the Sand Motor) 5. Secure the quality of the Natura 2000 nature reserve in the dunes located nearby that could be affected by the developments (7)

Implementation activities

The main implementation activity was the creation of the artificial peninsula of 128 hectares (7) for which 21.5 million m3 of sand was placed (1,6). Other activities included the two sand nourishment operations on either side of the Sand Motor that were performed simultaneously (7) and the monitoring and research by means of a 40 meters high Argus Mast with monitoring instruments, laser vehicles, jetski's, buoys and surveys. (2,7) Creation of an artificial peninsula in order to protect the mainland from sea level rise, contributing to sustainable coastal protection that promotes biodiversity.

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Protect coastal and freshwater ecosystems to prevent coastal erosion and pollution
  • Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms

Main beneficiaries

  • National-level government
  • Local government/Municipality
  • Researchers/University
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • National government
  • Regional government

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Citizen science
  • Citizen monitoring and review

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project was initiated by Rijkswaterstaat (National Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment) and the Province of South Holland (2,7) Rijkswaterstaat is responsible for coastal management, the financing of the project and part of the connected data collection of the Sand Motor (6,7). The Province is primarily responsible for day-to-day management of the Sand Motor in collaboration with 'Zuid-Hollands Landschap' (South Holland Landscape) who mainly monitors nature and recreation including provision of information and cleaning flora and fauna (2). Supervision and lifeguard service is managed by the Province, Veiligheidsregio Haaglanden (regional government), and two municipalities (Westland and The Hague) (2,7). The Province and Dunea (water company) monitor ground water and the effect of the Sand Motor on nature in the Natura 2000 dune area (7). Universities and research institutes conduct research with the help of citizens (2). A consortium of all actors is created: EcoShape. (4)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (In the National Water Plan, the Water Act and the National Policy Strategy for Infrastructure and Spatial Planning in which objectives for sustainable maintenance of protection against flooding from the sea are specified (7). The Sand Motor fits the strategy of sustainable coastal management as it will contribute to long-term coastal protection. The national policies also specify that Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment) is responsible for coastal management. Because of the national strategy, Rijkswaterstaat is always looking for more efficient and more sustainable coastal management especially since coastal protection is increasing in costs regarding increasing sea level rise (7).)
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds
  • Public national budget
  • Public regional budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

No

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Increased protection against sea level rise
  • Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved soil quality
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Increased appreciation for natural spaces
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Zandmotor Monitoring. (n.d.). Wat is de zandmotor? Website not available
2. Zandmotor. (2014). The Sand Motor - passionate research. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
3. Zandmotor. (2016). The Sand Motor Five years of Building with Nature. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
4. Rijkswaterstaat. (2016). Interim results 2011-2015 The Sand Motor: driver of innovative coast maintenance. The Hague: Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment. Website not available.
5. Deltares (2015). A framework for sandy strategy development. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
6. Delatres (2016). The usability of the sand motor concept. Website not available
7. Taal, M.D., Löffler, M.A.M., Vertegaal, C.T.M., Wijsman, J.W.M., Van der Valk, L., & Tonnon, P.K. (2016). Development of the Sand Motor. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
8. EcoShape (n.d.) Ons netwerk. [online] Available at: Source link
9. Zandmotor Monitoring. (n.d.). Research into the Sand Motor. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
Zandmotor
Source: https://dezandmotor.nl/fotos-en-videos/
Zandmotor
Source: https://dezandmotor.nl/fotos-en-videos/
Zandmotor
Source: https://dezandmotor.nl/fotos-en-videos/