10 years Sand Motor is a success!

News - 13 July 2021 - Webredactie

The Sand Motor celebrated its 10th anniversary on Friday July 1. That day Rijkswaterstaat and the Province of Zuid-Holland presented the results during the Coastal Dynamics congress (28 June - 1 July). After 10 years, the Sand Motor appears to be a success. For ecologists, recreational users and certainly for researchers. Professor Stefan Aarninkhof: “The Sand Motor will continue to be the ‘living lab’ of Coastal Engineering in our backyard.” 


Building with nature

The Sand Motor, conceived on the basis of the design philosophy 'Building with Nature', is a dynamic area that is far from being 'finished': it will continue to develop over the coming decades. Under the influence of waves, currents and wind, the sand will shift along the coast, north and south. The more sand that is spread towards the dunes and the beach, the less will remain of the original sand bar.

An infographic of activities at the Sand Motor

Reinforcing the coast with dunes

After a slow start dune formation has increased in recent years. This is particularly evident in the southern part of the Sand Motor, where dunes up to 3 metres high have formed on the beach. The existing row of dunes near the Sand Motor has also become broader. Dune formation is expected to increase further in the years ahead. 

Sierd de Vries explains more in this video. More about the results of the Sand Motor can be read in the report '10 years of building with nature', a production by Rijkswaterstaat and the province of Zuid-Holland.

Coastal Dynamics Conference

About 350 international participants attended the Coastal Dynamics Conference (28 June - 1 July), some at TU Delft and others online. Stefan Aarninkhof gave a presentation on the research and practical innovation following the Sand Motor. Besides scientists, representatives from industry and government also attended the final conference on 1 July: the focus was on the Sand Motor.
 

Stefan Aarninkhoff during the final conference 10 years Sand Motor. Foto: Roy Borghouts


On Friday 2 July, a field trip for small groups was organised to the Sand Motor. Participants could witness the ‘living lab’ for field work on site. Because of current and expected climate changes, the TU continues to work on the Sand Motor.

Read more about the research on the Sand Motor in the story of science 'Sand on the horizon'. More information about the Sandmotor: http://www.dezandmotor.nl/en