Tidal nature Polder Wassenaar

For the past six years, the Zilte Zones Foundation has been conducting research into saline crops and marine aquaculture, from sea lettuce to cockles, in the Wassenaar Polder on Texel. This is an outer dike polder where a temporary facility has been constructed for these experiments. The agreement is to develop the area as a nature reserve after the experiments are completed. The goal is to create an open corridor between the polder and the Wadden Sea, allowing the natural water movement of the ebb and flow to penetrate, thus enabling the development of a salt marsh biotope in the polder.

In 2020, Smartland developed a preliminary sketch and underlying habitat plans for this purpose. This was done through an interactive process with various stakeholders in the area. The natural process of erosion and sedimentation played a significant role in this process, and a landscape was designed that was deliberately artificial and fragile, and that would gradually transform into a natural landscape.

In 2024, Smartland further developed this into a draft design, based on a changing initial situation. We developed design variations - from more natural to cultural - and opted for a design that maximises the freshwater-saltwater gradient with minimal earthmoving. The interventions include installing a wide, closable culvert in the dike, excavating the entrance to a creek, constructing a dike foot and a bird island, and partially removing top layers of the soil. The plan includes several recreational viewpoints and the proposal for a birdwatching screen.

Location: Texel, NL

Type: Landschapsontwerp, strategie

Status: Schetsontwerp richting uitvoering

Client: Stichting Zilte Zones, Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee

Participation: Staatsbosbeheer, Sweco, Vogelwerkgroep

Team: Smartland, Waterproof

Habitatschema

Situatie tijdens proef met betonnen vijvers in de polder