Beach nourishment May 2016

By the end of May Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Waterways and Public works) will begin to raise the beach levels between Zoutelande and Westkapelle. This sand spraying will take about four weeks.

The work is regarding the beach of Westkapelle to the beach pavilion of 'De Zeeuwse Riviera'. The beach towards Flushing is freely accessible from this pavilion.

Why?
The dunes and beaches are the most important protection against the sea in the Netherlands. Annually a lot of sand disappears from the coast due to wind, sea and currents. Beaches also lose terrain due to the rising sea level. By putting new sand back, the coast line stays intact naturally, and the land behind the dunes remain well protected from the sea.

Will I be inconvenienced by the work?
During the reclamation of the beach the area where work will be performed is temporarily closed off to beachgoers and water sport enthusiasts. During the work there's a risk that quicksand occurs. Also heavy machinery will be driving around such as bulldozers and shovels. At the beach entrances visitors will be informed about the progress with information signs.

Sand may be more dusty than usual on and near freshly sprayed beaches if there are high winds. This is not very pleasant for beach visitors, but it's necessary for the nature in the dune area. It ensures that the sand moves around in a more natural way and rises with the sea level.

This is all subject to change, during the actual work, the planning may be adjusted. More information is available at: http://www.rws.nl/

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).