In the Krimpenerwaard, approximately 14 hectares of nature will be developed around Bergambacht. This is made possible through a collaboration between the municipality of Krimpenerwaard, the drinking water company Dunea, and the province of South Holland. The leaders of these three organizations signed a cooperation agreement on April 10 to establish the nature area.

The establishment of nature is part of a broader development in this area, which consists of two components. First, work is being done on a nature reserve and the construction of the new town hall. The second development is the expansion of Duneas production location.

Deputy Berend Potjer: “Thanks to the municipality of Krimpenerwaard and drinking water company Dunea for this wonderful collaboration! Thanks to this project, we are not only realizing a new town hall and a future-proof drinking water supply, but also extra space for nature in the Krimpenerwaard. This is good news for animals and plants in our province and also good news for residents who can fully enjoy this special area.”

Special Nature and Space for Walkers

The nature reserve will be established between the provincial road N210 and the Lekdijk. The current land will be transformed into nature that fits this environment. Think of herb-rich and fauna-rich grasslands with ponds where plants such as buttercups grow and where crested newts live, or wooded areas with trees such as alders, willows, and birches. A portion of the nature reserve will be made accessible to walkers with walking paths.

New Town Hall

Adjacent to the center of Bergambacht, the construction of the new town hall for the municipality of Krimpenerwaard is in full swing. The completion of this fully circular building is scheduled for the end of 2025. At the same time as the new town hall, the municipality is also developing the area behind the new town hall. This will ensure a good connection to the water-rich environment and the polder landscape.

Expansion of Duneas Production Location

The drinking water company Dunea is preparing for the future. The demand for clean drinking water is growing, while it requires more and more effort to supply sufficient water of good quality. Due to the challenges Dunea faces, the production location must be expanded while space for nature is created outside in the area. Dunea currently provides drinking water to nearly 1.4 million residents in the western part of South Holland.

Network of Nature Reserves

These developments align seamlessly with the plans of the province of South Holland. As agreed with the national government, the province is committed to delivering a network of nature reserves that are as interconnected as possible by 2027. This gives plants and animals a better chance of survival. The province refers to this as the Nature Network Netherlands. A large part of this is already completed, but the last hectares still need to be established in the coming years. A portion of this was already on the map of the Nature Network Netherlands near Bergambacht. Thanks to the collaboration between the three parties, this section can now be included.

Next Steps

The cooperation agreement signed on April 10 contains agreements on the steps the municipality, the province, and Dunea will take in the coming period to make all developments in this area possible. Discussions have already been held with various parties to create an initial outline of what the nature and recreation area could look like. Based on this initial outline, meetings will be scheduled with local residents, social organizations, and other stakeholders to gather their opinions on the plans. The results of these discussions will be used to create a final outline. Updates about the project will be shared via www.krimpenerwaard.nl/gebiedsontwikkeling (opens in new window).