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Fake Islands Bring a Dutch Lake Back to Life Fake Islands Bring a Dutch Lake Back to Life
(about 4 hours later)
LELYSTAD, Netherlands — Wildlife is flourishing inside an artificial archipelago on a lake just northeast of Amsterdam. Red clover, reeds and more than 100 other plant species grow, while thousands of birds fly overhead, feeding on the insects and small fish below.LELYSTAD, Netherlands — Wildlife is flourishing inside an artificial archipelago on a lake just northeast of Amsterdam. Red clover, reeds and more than 100 other plant species grow, while thousands of birds fly overhead, feeding on the insects and small fish below.
More than 40 years after the authorities in the Netherlands, a country that takes pride in its innovative methods of water management, caused an environmental calamity on what is now a lake known as the Markermeer, an ambitious if costly solution is bringing it back to life.More than 40 years after the authorities in the Netherlands, a country that takes pride in its innovative methods of water management, caused an environmental calamity on what is now a lake known as the Markermeer, an ambitious if costly solution is bringing it back to life.
The Dutch government built a dam in 1976 sectioning off the lake, one of Europe’s largest and shallowest bodies of freshwater, but the dike trapped sediment, muddied its waters and damaged its wildlife.The Dutch government built a dam in 1976 sectioning off the lake, one of Europe’s largest and shallowest bodies of freshwater, but the dike trapped sediment, muddied its waters and damaged its wildlife.
The future of the Markermeer became a contentious issue, and the government is employing a creative response to a self-inflicted wound: the construction of five islands on a man-made archipelago.The future of the Markermeer became a contentious issue, and the government is employing a creative response to a self-inflicted wound: the construction of five islands on a man-made archipelago.
The islands are designed to collect sediment and attract birds, fish and other wildlife to the lake. The first one was operational over the summer and opened to the public in September, and the benefits are already apparent.The islands are designed to collect sediment and attract birds, fish and other wildlife to the lake. The first one was operational over the summer and opened to the public in September, and the benefits are already apparent.
“We feel partly responsible, because we made the dike that suffocated the lake,” said Ben Viveen, a government official overseeing the island-building effort. The dike, he said, was preparation for a land reclamation project that never took place. “We want to make the lake healthy again, to bring back fish and birds, and to improve the quality of its water.”“We feel partly responsible, because we made the dike that suffocated the lake,” said Ben Viveen, a government official overseeing the island-building effort. The dike, he said, was preparation for a land reclamation project that never took place. “We want to make the lake healthy again, to bring back fish and birds, and to improve the quality of its water.”
The Markermeer islands are a joint project of the government and the Dutch Society for Nature Conservation, a private organization that came up with the idea. To reverse the environmental damage, the Dutch government has provided about half of the project’s budget of 78 million euros, about $89 million, with the remainder coming from a mixture of public and private sources.The Markermeer islands are a joint project of the government and the Dutch Society for Nature Conservation, a private organization that came up with the idea. To reverse the environmental damage, the Dutch government has provided about half of the project’s budget of 78 million euros, about $89 million, with the remainder coming from a mixture of public and private sources.
“This is a very good deal for the government,” said Jesse Klaver, a Dutch lawmaker who leads the country’s Green Left Party. “It is very important to our small, proud country to recreate the Markermeer as a place for all kinds of species to live.”“This is a very good deal for the government,” said Jesse Klaver, a Dutch lawmaker who leads the country’s Green Left Party. “It is very important to our small, proud country to recreate the Markermeer as a place for all kinds of species to live.”
It takes about 30 minutes by ferry from the Dutch city of Lelystad to reach the archipelago of islands; the celebration for the opening of the first one in September brought 3,000 people to its shores. The other four islands are already visible, and scheduled for completion next year.It takes about 30 minutes by ferry from the Dutch city of Lelystad to reach the archipelago of islands; the celebration for the opening of the first one in September brought 3,000 people to its shores. The other four islands are already visible, and scheduled for completion next year.
With no sounds other than those produced by nature, the archipelago is can feel almost entirely isolated from the outside world. Sunlight reflects off its sandy beaches, where waves break onto shores, built to guard against flooding and to attract visitors, that until recently did not exist. With no sounds other than those produced by nature, the archipelago can feel almost entirely isolated from the outside world. Sunlight reflects off its sandy beaches, where waves break onto shores, built to guard against flooding and to attract visitors, that until recently did not exist.
These shorelines, while beautiful and secluded, shield the main attraction: vast expanses of fertile land built, in part, with the very sediment that corrupted the Markermeer. On the island, bridges and walkways zigzag through a rapidly developing habitat. Signs advise visitors to avoid stepping into abundant wetlands, into which, guides say, people would quickly sink halfway.These shorelines, while beautiful and secluded, shield the main attraction: vast expanses of fertile land built, in part, with the very sediment that corrupted the Markermeer. On the island, bridges and walkways zigzag through a rapidly developing habitat. Signs advise visitors to avoid stepping into abundant wetlands, into which, guides say, people would quickly sink halfway.
“The plan is working so far,” said Liesbeth Bakker, a scientist at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology who has been studying the Markermeer’s shifting biodiversity. “As a scientist, it is hard to say how this will develop over time. But in the first year, it appears this project has been a wild success in terms of bringing new types of food, fish and birds to the lake.”“The plan is working so far,” said Liesbeth Bakker, a scientist at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology who has been studying the Markermeer’s shifting biodiversity. “As a scientist, it is hard to say how this will develop over time. But in the first year, it appears this project has been a wild success in terms of bringing new types of food, fish and birds to the lake.”
The construction of the first island began in 2016. Jeroen van der Klooster, the project’s lead builder, used large amounts of sediment, sand and clay to construct the archipelago, which measures two kilometers by five kilometers, about 1.2 miles by 3 miles overall — a difficult process, he said, but one that has resulted in a “paradise of nature.”The construction of the first island began in 2016. Jeroen van der Klooster, the project’s lead builder, used large amounts of sediment, sand and clay to construct the archipelago, which measures two kilometers by five kilometers, about 1.2 miles by 3 miles overall — a difficult process, he said, but one that has resulted in a “paradise of nature.”
“We have already seen dramatic, spectacular changes: thousands of new birds, clearer water, massive amounts of insects,” said Roel Posthoorn, an initiator of the project for the Dutch Society for Nature Conservation, during a recent tour of the archipelago.“We have already seen dramatic, spectacular changes: thousands of new birds, clearer water, massive amounts of insects,” said Roel Posthoorn, an initiator of the project for the Dutch Society for Nature Conservation, during a recent tour of the archipelago.
Mr. Posthoorn hopes that the first island will become a tourist destination for nature enthusiasts. Plans are underway to provide daily ferry service to the site, where lodging and camping grounds will soon be built. Money raised from tourism fees, Mr. Posthoorn added, would go toward the upkeep of the islands.Mr. Posthoorn hopes that the first island will become a tourist destination for nature enthusiasts. Plans are underway to provide daily ferry service to the site, where lodging and camping grounds will soon be built. Money raised from tourism fees, Mr. Posthoorn added, would go toward the upkeep of the islands.
The Markermeer project fits into the Netherlands’ broader and renowned history of water management. Some 26 percent of the country’s population lives below sea level, and 29 percent are vulnerable to river flooding.The Markermeer project fits into the Netherlands’ broader and renowned history of water management. Some 26 percent of the country’s population lives below sea level, and 29 percent are vulnerable to river flooding.
For centuries, the Dutch have been building dikes to mold their lands and manage floods, and the dam on the Markermeer, which is being retained for flood control, represented a rare environmental misstep. Through varied projects and extensive funding, the government has avoided any flooding catastrophes since 1953, when a major storm surge killed more than 1,800 people.For centuries, the Dutch have been building dikes to mold their lands and manage floods, and the dam on the Markermeer, which is being retained for flood control, represented a rare environmental misstep. Through varied projects and extensive funding, the government has avoided any flooding catastrophes since 1953, when a major storm surge killed more than 1,800 people.
“We’re always thinking about climate adaptation, and in the future, we will likely need artificial land to keep our country safe, to build new nature, as we have done with the Markermeer,” said Mr. Klaver.“We’re always thinking about climate adaptation, and in the future, we will likely need artificial land to keep our country safe, to build new nature, as we have done with the Markermeer,” said Mr. Klaver.
In the coming decades, climate change could leave the Netherlands even more vulnerable to fierce tides and storms. The government is working to increase awareness about the dangers, but Dutch officials are quick to emphasize that overcoming water-based challenges is in their blood.In the coming decades, climate change could leave the Netherlands even more vulnerable to fierce tides and storms. The government is working to increase awareness about the dangers, but Dutch officials are quick to emphasize that overcoming water-based challenges is in their blood.
“Our culture is so tied to living with water, and it never stops,” said Henk Ovink, the Dutch government’s special envoy for international water affairs. “With the dam, water quality in the Markermeer went down because there was no movement of water. So we have responded with innovation, with these islands, and that is just who we are as people.”“Our culture is so tied to living with water, and it never stops,” said Henk Ovink, the Dutch government’s special envoy for international water affairs. “With the dam, water quality in the Markermeer went down because there was no movement of water. So we have responded with innovation, with these islands, and that is just who we are as people.”