After five years of monitoring, the interim results for the Sand Motor pilot project are now available.
The results were presented at an international conference ‘ The Sand Motor, 5 years of Building with Natur e’ in the Kurhaus in Scheveningen.
The Sand Motor, run by Rijkswaterstaat, the provincial authority of South Holland, research institutes and the private sector – provides natural coastal maintenance, creating at the same time space where recreation and nature can thrive.
Wind, waves, tides and sea currents will gradually spread the sand from this man-made peninsula, predominantly northwards along the Delfland coast between Ter Heijde and Kijkduin.
In 2012, 2 million cubic meters of sand started moving: 500,000 cubic meters spread along dunes and on the deep seabed (outside monitored area); 600,000 cubic meters on the Sand Motor itself; 900,000 cubic meters spread in the monitored area.
The monitoring of the Sand Motor will continue through to 2021 with Rijkswaterstaat leading the effort. In 2021, there will be a solid scientific evaluation of the Sand Motor concept because the contractors will then have a firmer understanding of how the Sand Motor works.