Deputy Matthijs de Vries of Province of Fryslân: “I am proud that in the Nijdjip we demonstrate how nature, water safety, and climate come together. This way, we build a richer living environment for plants and animals and a strong Fryslân for the future.”
Daily board member Monique Plantinga of Wetterskip Fryslân: “The nature-friendly banks in the Nijdjip provide a beautiful fulfillment of our goals under the European Water Framework Directive. The gentle banks with reeds improve water quality. Also, the area can now store more water during times of extreme rainfall.”
More space for aquatic plants and animals
Along five kilometers, nature-friendly banks have been created. These banks gradually slope from land to water, providing a better habitat for plants and animals. The Nijdjip is also an important route for species such as the otter, northern water vole, and the great emperor dragonfly. Thanks to new marsh zones and crossing points, they can move calmly and safely.
More space for clean water
The new design allows sunlight to better reach the bottom. This enables aquatic plants like water reed to grow better. These plants purify the water and provide food and shelter for animals. The new banks provide more space for water. With higher water barriers, the area is better protected against water nuisance.
Circular collaboration
The higher water barriers in the Nijdjip are built with 10,000 cubic meters of clay from the new residential area Middelsee in Leeuwarden. The Municipality of Leeuwarden, Wetterskip Fryslân, and Province of Fryslân collaborated on this through the Frisian working and thinking method Grip op Grond. This way, released soil is reused nearby, sustainably, and smartly. The clay was transported by ship: this reduces traffic nuisance and CO₂ emissions.
The Nijdjip is part of the area development around De Centrale As. The project was made possible by an investment of € 583,300 from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD, POP3).
