New pumping stations in ‘the Afsluitdike’ near den Oever

The Afsluitdike separates the IJssellake and the Wadden Sea, is an icon of Dutch hydraulic engineering and was built in 1932. The primary functions of the Afsluitdike are to provide water safety from the Wadden Sea and water discharge from the IJssellake and as an additional function it taking care of road traffic between the provinces of North Holland and Friesland and shipping traffic between the Wadden Sea and the IJssellake.

Due to the rising of the sea level and the increase in the discharge capacity, the Afsluitdike must be reinforced as indicated in Document “National Integration Plan Afsluitdike”, date January 2016. Water discharge is not possible when the water level in the Wadden Sea is high. That is why the LEVVEL consortium is also building two large pumping stations in Den Oever. During construction, the Afsluitdike must continue to fulfill its function as a flood defense and as a road connection between the dutch departments Noord-Holland and Friesland. Geoconstruct was commissioned by the LEVVEL consortium to provide part of the design of the excavation pits and the wateraccess structures to these pumping stations.