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DIRECTING WATER

Groynes and harbor dams are crucial components of water infrastructure. They serve as protection against erosion, currents and tides. But they also facilitate safe shipping and port operations.

As hydraulic engineers, we have been involved in the construction or modification of groynes for many years. Starting in 2012, for example, we played a significant role in several projects related to the national flood safety program “Room for the River. We have lowered over two hundred and fifty groynes and constructed longitudinal dams. This allows the water in various rivers, including the Maas, Waal and IJssel to find its way more easily, while preserving the shipping channel.

Pilots with flexible groynes in the IJssel
In recent years we have conducted several pilots with the construction of flexible groynes, built by means of Xstream blocks. An initiative under the banner of the innovation program Self Supporting River System in cooperation with Rijkswaterstaat, among others.

flexible cribs

The flexible groyne is constructed from so-called Xstream blocks. It is a modular and adaptive system. When we apply the blocks, they hook together to form a sturdy structure. Anchoring is not necessary. The blocks can be easily picked up, so the groyne can be extended or raised with little effort.

92-Arrow Right More about our flexible groynes

Safe harbor in Harlingen and Zeeland

Van den Herik protects ports and port activities by constructing and reinforcing port dams. In Harlingen, for example, we reinforced the three hundred and fifty-meter-long section of the harbor dam by dumping break stone against it underwater. This keeps the trench immediately adjacent to the Noorderpier in place and prevents it from shifting towards the pier.

We also installed tide pools. In these pools the water remains after high tide. They provide shelter for all kinds of organisms and thus increase biodiversity. The pools are also a food source for birds.

Advice and realization
We do not only realize works. Van den Herik also thinks along with you about possible solutions for port dams. We develop our advice in-house into a realistic design with an accompanying cost estimate. As a construction team partner for the municipality of Reimerswaal, we first worked out the definitive design for the port of Yerseke. We then came to an agreement for the realization. Precisely because of our experience in the execution of this type of project, it became a feasible design.

Port dam reinforcement in Harlingen