Water as Leverage - Wadden Sea Region

Water as Leverage for Climate Adaptation: Wadden Sea Region
Harlingen
Challenges
Towards an Inclusive
Wadden Lighthouse
DYKES AND SLUICES IN NEED OF
REFURBISHMENT
The city of Harlingen and its
functions is facilitated by large
infrastructure such as dykes,
sluices and a commercial harbour.
In order to protect Harlingen and its
hinterland from (future) challenges
like climate change and touristic
pressure, the many infrastructures
have to be upgraded or renewed in
the coming decade.
The sea dyke – which is running
through the city and the harbour -
needs to be upgraded as it no longer
meets the safety standards. The
current piers and the configuration
of the harbour create a bottleneck
for ships nowadays, and poses
the question if the position of the
dykes and piers should be rethought
entirely.
A new sluice complex is needed
as the current one is at the end of
its life cycle. Special attention is
needed to diminish the increasing
sedimentation when the fresh water
is flowing into the sea in the harbour,
in order to not have to constantly
dredge the harbour. At the same
time, the sluice should decrease the
salinization of the canals inland and
guarantee the current fish migration.
Additionally there is a need to look
into the future water management
of the hinterland. Discharge of
water – naturally or with pumps – at
Harlingen is needed to safeguard the
hinterland from flooding.
The recreational use of the harbour
for swimming is also on the wishlist,
in order to make the city more
attractive. And moreover, there is
a need for a bigger parking area to
handle the big tourist flow. Each of
these complex projects is thought
out by different instances, although
they are closely connected spatially
and functionally.
BUNDLING FORCES TO BECOME
A WADDEN LIGHTHOUSE TOWN
The goal of the partners is to bundle
the momentum of the need to act
to make the overall city climate
resilient, attractive, livable and a
touristic hotspot.
In order to do so, an integral
plan is needed that connects the
challenges, ambitions, and solutions
to one another. In this plan, special
attention should go to four transition
lines: the recovery of biodiversity,
sustainable energy & climate, circular
economy and an inclusive society.
Harlingen wants to become in this
way a ‘lighthouse town’: a coastal
city where both climate-related,
social, economic, and touristic
challenges are handled in an
integrated and innovative way. The
city then becomes a best practice
and sets a new standard for area
development in coastal zones.
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Harlingen