Workum's IJsselmeer coast gets major upgrade: safer, deeper and greener by 2027
Residents and visitors of Workum can expect a safer, more accessible IJsselmeer coast with improved recreational opportunities and restored nature. Construction starts this month, with phased closures ensuring beach access remains available throughout the project.
| Project | Details | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| It Soal groyne construction | New groyne with walking trail, fishing platforms, and boat ramp | March 16 – Summer 2026 |
| Recreational water deepening | Water near beach deepened to 1.40m for surfers and swimmers | Summer 2026 – Spring 2027 |
| Warkumerwaard nature restoration | Sand plateau, shell banks, and stone dam to prevent erosion over 2km stretch | Summer 2026 – Spring 2027 |
| Funding | €13M (national) + €5M (regional) for Frisian IJsselmeer Coast project | |
| Contractors | Van Oord and Van der Meer | |
| Beach access | Phased closures; one half of the beach always open |
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, alongside regional authorities, is leading efforts to strengthen the Frisian IJsselmeer coast. This initiative aims to balance safety, nature conservation, and recreational use, ensuring long-term resilience against erosion and improving water quality.
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Work on the Water in Workum
Various works will be carried out next year along the IJsselmeer coast near Workum. These works are part of the Strengthening the Frisian IJsselmeer Coast project. In this project, government authorities and nature organizations are collaborating to create a strong and safe IJsselmeer coast, with attention to nature, landscape, and recreation.
In Workum, three projects have been cleverly combined. A groyne will be constructed, the recreational water will be deepened, and the sand removed from the recreational water will be used to reinforce the Warkumerwaard:
- Construction of the It Soal groyne:
A second groyne will be built near the beach and recreational water, parallel to the existing groyne that borders the Stoenckherne nature area. The new groyne will prevent the navigation channel from silting up, thereby maintaining better water depth for shipping. A concrete path will be laid on the groyne, which will serve as a walking trail. Additionally, four fishing platforms will be installed for anglers. The contractor will also construct a trailer ramp for small boats with hand trailers. Work on the groyne will begin on March 16 and is expected to be completed by this summer.
- Improving depth in the recreational water:
The water near the beach will be deepened to approximately 1.40 meters. This will improve conditions for (kite)surfers and swimmers. The sand removed will be used to restore the Warkumerwaard. Work on the recreational water is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026 and is planned to continue until the end of 2026, possibly extending into the spring of 2027.
- Nature restoration in the Warkumerwaard
The nature area will be reinforced and restored over a length of approximately 2 kilometers. The sand removed from the recreational water will be used to create a sand plateau with varying heights, about 200 meters wide. Shell banks will be placed in several locations to protect the area from erosion. A stone dam will be constructed on the northern side to retain the sand within the area. Work on the nature area is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026 and is planned to continue until the end of 2026, with a possible extension into the spring of 2027.
Closures
During the works, parts of the area will be closed off. During the initial works on the groyne (March – summer 2026), the beach itself will not be closed, but the path in the southern tip towards the It Soal Canal will be inaccessible. During the first phase of the works on the recreational water near the beach (starting summer 2026), the southern side of the beach will be closed, while the northern half remains open. Subsequently, the northern half will be closed, leaving the southern half open. Thus, one half of the beach will always remain accessible for recreation. Visitors are advised to pay attention to signs and fences and, for safety reasons, to avoid entering the closed-off areas.
Strengthening the Frisian IJsselmeer Coast
It Soal in Workum is one of the largest sub-projects of the Strengthening the Frisian IJsselmeer Coast initiative. Following the earlier completion of the swimming jetty in Laaksum, the De Mokkebank nature area in Laaksum, the renovation of the Makkumer Noordwaard, and the Plattedijk in Lemmer, this is one of the next projects.
Collaboration Partners
The Strengthening the Frisian IJsselmeer Coast project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the region. Regionally, it involves cooperation between the Province of Fryslân, the Municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân, the Municipality of De Fryske Marren, It Fryske Gea, Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife Netherlands), and the Nationale Postcode Loterij (National Postcode Lottery). These organizations are committed to erosion control measures and improving the ecological water quality. The national government has allocated over €13 million for the Strengthening the Frisian IJsselmeer Coast project, with the region contributing an additional €5 million. The works in Workum are being carried out by contractor Van Oord in collaboration with contractor Van der Meer.
More information: www.frieseijsselmeerkust.frl.