Creating a natural landscape at Markermeer where life can thrive

The challenge: a hostile habitat meant nature needed a helping hand

Marker Wadden is a nature reserve in the heart of the Markermeer. It is a unique place with several islands designed to accommodate both nature and recreation. Covering 70,000 hectares, the Markermeer is one of the biggest nature areas and freshwater lakes in the Netherlands and Europe. However, it wasn’t a place where nature could thrive. 

The construction of levees and dams had caused a thick layer of silt to build up on the lake floor. The water was full of mud, and fish were scarce. The lack of food and habitat meant there wasn’t a single species of bird that called the area home.

But restoring and developing the ecosystem would be a huge undertaking. It required innovative solutions and extensive funding. Luckily, it was a challenge Natuurmonumenten – an organisation working to preserve ecosystems and create a more natural Netherlands –took up.

They came up with a way to use the mud and silt from the bottom of the lake to create islands – restoring the lakebed and creating areas for plants to thrive and birds to rest.

During the development of the Marker Wadden project, they encountered several challenges, such as assessing plan feasibility, optimising natural surface area while staying cost-effective, and securing approvals to kickstart the tendering process.

The solution: reshaping the landscape to support life

To address these challenges, a partnership was formed, including financiers from various ministries, the province of Flevoland, and both public and private organisations. For technical and strategic consultancy, Natuurmonumenten approached Royal HaskoningDHV due to our extensive experience in handling procedures, addressing technical challenges and engaging with stakeholders. We were selected to lead the project’s planning process.

Throughout the project, from planning and permit applications to procurement strategy, tendering, and implementation, we provided comprehensive technical, process, and safety advice. We created a detailed proposal, outlining a thorough analysis of steps to turn the project’s vision into a reality. But finding a way to use the fine silt to create sturdy islands wasn’t easy.

We had regular meetings to ensure we were using funding in the best way, and creating a landscape that could thrive for decades to come. By using armour rock, sand, and silt we could create natural islands. And by collecting silt from the lakebed we could create a wider ecosystem.

New habitats would include deep and shallow waters, sand banks, pools, reed beds, and marshland – creating homes for birds and improving the ecological function of the lake. In 2016 the first island was constructed, and life began to return to the region.