Goeree-Overflakkee coastline to receive sand nourishment

Rijkswaterstaat will begin sand nourishment operations along the coast of Goeree-Overflakkee in September to combat coastal erosion. Dredging vessels will transport approximately 880,000 cubic meters of sand from the North Sea to the shoreline.

The project aims to maintain the coastline and protect the hinterland from sea encroachment. Erosion caused by tidal currents near the sea dike, Het Flaauwe Werk, can cause the coastline to retreat by 6 to 18 meters annually if left unaddressed. This follows a previous nourishment in 2021 involving 1.25 million cubic meters of sand.

Specialized trailing suction hopper dredgers will extract sand from designated areas more than ten kilometers offshore. The sand will be pumped onto the beach via pipelines, then distributed by bulldozers and shovels. Rijkswaterstaat noted that operations will account for protected nature by maintaining distance from breeding and mammal species during their active seasons.