Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen

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Water seepage in the aqueduct dunes

The Amsterdam Waterline Dunes ( Dutch Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen ) are a nature reserve in the dune belt on the Dutch North Sea coast south of Zandvoort and form the southern continuation of the dune area of ​​the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park . The dune area, which is mostly in the province of North Holland , is mainly used to obtain water to supply the city of Amsterdam with drinking water . The southern part belongs to the municipality of Noordwijk in the province of South Holland .

Nature and tourism

The dune area is about 8 kilometers long, 4.5 kilometers wide and offers 30 kilometers of hiking trails on an area of ​​3400 hectares. Larger wooded areas can be found on the eastern edge while the dune landscape predominates in the south. Various landscape zones form an oasis of calm in which pedestrians can move freely outside of the paths. Dogs and cyclists are not allowed. Cows and sheep have been grazing in the dunes for years and are not allowed to be fed.

Due to the varied landscape, many animal species feel at home. The open water areas of the canals and the infiltration areas attract various water birds and numerous dragonflies can be found in the clear water. The meadows and forests are home to many birds, mammals and insects. And there is a good chance of spotting a roe deer or fallow deer, because the dune landscape has the largest fallow deer population in the Netherlands. You can look out for sand lizards on dry patches of sand.

In order to be allowed to enter the dune area, one must purchase a day ticket ("Duincard") for € 1.50 from one of the machines in front of the four entrances. There is a charge of € 2 for a parking space.

The area has four main entrances:

  • The oasis in Vogelenzang: Eerste Leijweg 2; here is the De Oranjekom visitor center
  • Panneland in Vogelenzang: Vogelenzangseduinweg 2
  • Zandvoortselaan in Zandvoort: Zandvoortselaan 130
  • De Zilk in De Zilk: Joppeweg 1

Water extraction

The Amsterdam aqueduct dunes were set up to provide drinking water to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam. Water has been pumped here since 1853, making the dune landscape the oldest water catchment area in the Netherlands. It is operated by Waternet , a joint venture between Waterschap Hoogheemraadschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht , the municipality of Amsterdam and the water supplier Provinciaal Waterleiding Bedrijf Noord-Holland (PWN). To compensate for the water supply and the water table aufzuhöhen operates Waternet targeted infiltration of treated surface water. The water comes from the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and undergoes extensive pretreatment in Nieuwegein by precipitation and sand filtration before it is fed into the canal system of the water supply dunes via a 55-kilometer pipeline. The sand filtration in the dunes ensures natural cleaning so that good raw water can be provided. At the Oranjekom , on the eastern edge of the dune area, 50 million m³ of water are taken annually and fed to the waterworks in Leiduin, where it is processed into drinking water in several steps.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Amsterdam Aquatic Dunes on natuurwegwijzer.nl (Dutch)
  2. ↑ The Amsterdam water supply dunes on bollenstreek.nl (Dutch)