The tidal harbor of Paal is one of eight new projects added to the Heritage Deal program. This allows the Province of Zeeland and the municipality of Hulst to proceed with plans for the Scheldedorp Paal. Namely, the renovation of the tidal harbor, the construction of two new dike crossings, and the building of a new swimming dock in the spuikom.
The harbor of Paal is one of the last tidal harbors in the Scheldt that is still in use. Many others have disappeared. Together with the local water sports association, entrepreneurs, and residents of Paal, a plan has been made for the renovation of the harbor and for a pleasant and livable village. The harbor, with its historical heritage value and the adjacent spuikom, is seen as a pearl. The redesign of Paal is part of the project Strengthen the Schelde Coast. New dike crossings will provide a beautiful connection between the sweet hinterland and the salty Westerschelde and a experiential Schelde Coast in the Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe.
Swimming dock with shower and dike crossings
With the contribution from the Heritage Deal and contributions from the Province of Zeeland and the municipality of Hulst, the tidal harbor can be restored. There are also plans to create a swimming dock with changing rooms and a shower at the spuikom. On the village side, the existing mural walls (the concrete slabs on top of the dike) from around 1920 will regain a prominent place in the landscape. Furthermore, two new dike crossings, information boards, benches, and picnic tables will be added, and considerations are being made about parking in the village. From the Heritage Deal, €800,000 is available for the Strengthen the Schelde Coast project in Paal. The expectation is that implementation can start no later than 2027. First, the plans must be further developed into a final design, and the zoning plan procedure must be completed.
What is the Heritage Deal?
With the Heritage Deal, innovative and regionally appropriate solutions arise by linking new area developments to local or regional heritage. A total of 59 projects will be created in this way integral . In this ninth and final round, eight new projects have been added: Heren van Herlaer, Landscape Zone Almere Stichtsekant, Swaen Curacao, Almeleau, Farms Oldambt-Nijambt, ENCI Maastricht, Paal Tidal Harbor, and Electricity Houses Utrecht City Center.
Inspirational flywheel
With this ninth round, the Heritage Deal comes to an end. The program will stop at the end of this year, but the task for which it was set up will continue. After all, there are still plenty of places in our country that are on the verge of change, where heritage can play a significant role. The projects from the Heritage Deal serve as examples and inspiration for larger area tasks for various ministries. Even in this last round, the projects demonstrate, both in rural and urban areas, how heritage can be used as an inspiring flywheel for new area developments.
