The Wieden and the Weerribben

With over 10,000 hectares of contiguous lowland peat bog, Weerribben-Wieden National Park is the largest lowland peat bog area in north-western Europe. In this unique nature reserve, we have applied our expertise to carry out extensive nature restoration work.

As part of the LIFE II project in the Weerribben, we cleared woodland and dug new peat trenches. The excavated material was pumped via a 7-kilometre-long pressure pipeline to the Wetering-West disposal site.

The Kiersche Wijde and Kerkgracht in De Wieden were also part of the LIFE II project. Here, we created gullies, ponds and peat trenches and cleared woodland to create a varied riparian habitat. The quarries were excavated to varying depths to enhance ecological diversity. The excavated material was pumped via a pressure pipeline to a sand extraction site, where it was used to make the lake shallower.

As part of the De Wieden Habitat Plan, we have also restored peat pits and drainage ditches. The excavated material was pumped to the island of Voornpol using our Shredder pontoon.

In this landscape of great cultural and historical value, work is constantly underway to preserve and enhance the variety of ponds, lakes, marsh forests, extensive reed beds and hay meadows, along with their associated flora and fauna. We look back with pride on our contribution to the restoration and conservation of this exceptional nature reserve.

Would you like to find out more about the Shredder Dredger and how this machine could be of use in your project? Please feel free to contact one of our dedicated staff members.