The Sand Motor: Building with Nature in Progress

Countries like the Netherlands, which are located partly below sea level, must defend themselves against coastal erosion and flooding. With projected climate change causing sea-level rise, and the increase in economic investments near the coast, this is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. More sustainable strategies are needed, especially given the prospect of sea-level rise.

The Sand Motor is a pilot project implemented by Rijkswaterstaat, the provincial authority of South Holland, research institutes and the private sector. It is a new multi-disciplinary approach to sand nourishment that provides natural coastal maintenance while, at the same time, creating an area where leisure activities and nature can thrive. The pilot project was organized to determine whether such a sustainable approach to coastal maintenance actually works in the short and long terms.