Climate change impacts
Every year, sandy beaches on the coast of the Netherlands are being eroded by ocean currents. The loss of sandy beaches leads to the incursion of seawater into low-lying urban areas.
Sand Motors on the coast of the Netherlands
| Publication date | July 25, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Sector | Natural Disasters and Coastal Areas |
| Region name | Overseas（Netherlands） |
Adaptation activity
The Sand Motor project was devised to prevent damage caused by rising sea levels. Based on the concept of "building coasts through natural methods", the objective is to regenerate lost coastline by gradually redistributing sand over time through wind, wave, and tidal motion.
Outputs / Expected benefits
This method is less costly than conventional erosion countermeasures that rely on moving large quantities of sand. Although still in the experimental stage, the expansion of sandy beaches has increased tourism and also the biodiversity of coastal areas.
Fig. 1 Sand Motor function
(Source: Ministry of the Environment "Stop Global Warming 2017")
(Source: Ministry of the Environment "Stop Global Warming 2017")
Fig. 2 Sand Motor
(Source: Rijkswaterstaat, Interim results 2011-2015)
(Source: Rijkswaterstaat, Interim results 2011-2015)
- Sources and Related Information
- Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment(2016), Interim results 2011-2015- The Sand Motor: driver of innovative coast maintenance
https://dezandmotor.nl/app/uploads/2021/01/The-Sand-Motor-Driver-of-innovative-coastal-maintenance.pdf - Government of the Netherlands (2014), Sand motor to enhance safety of coastal area
- European Environment Agency (2013), Adaptation in Europe-Addressing risks and opportunities from climate change in the context of socio-economic developments, EEA Report No 3/2013
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/adaptation-in-europe - De Zandmotor
https://dezandmotor.nl/en/about-the-sand-motor/ - Ministry of the Environment "Stop Global Warming 2017"
https://www.env.go.jp/earth/ondanka/knowledge/Stop2017.pdf
