Can you imagine an area designed to flood? That’s precisely the purpose of Piekberging Haarlemmermeer. This area plays a vital role in managing water levels in the Haarlemmermeer region.
Piekberging Haarlemmermeer is a water storage area. It sits between Abbenes and Buitenkaag near the A44. Piekberging Haarlemmermeer became operational in 2024.
The main goal of Piekberging Haarlemmermeer is to capture excess water. This prevents waterways from overflowing. In severe cases, it stops dikes from breaking. The area spans 67 hectares. It can hold about 1 million cubic meters of water. Rijnland expects to use the storage about once every 15 years.
The Province of Noord-Holland provided European subsidies for the project. These subsidies came from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Here’s how Piekberging Haarlemmermeer works. When the water level in the Ringvaart becomes too high, the gates in the dike open. The area fills within 24 hours. It fills at a rate of 15 cubic meters per second. Once full, the water stands two meters above the ground.
When the water level outside returns to normal, the gates reopen. The storage empties. It takes about five days for the water to flow into the Hoofdvaart. Gemaal De Leeghwater then pumps the water out. It pumps the water from Haarlemmermeer. It moves it into the boezem. When the area is dry, farmers can graze their cattle there again.
In November 2024, Piekberging Haarlemmermeer underwent a test. During this test, they filled it with water. A leak was quickly discovered. Authorities lowered the water level. The outlet opened. The water flowed into the Hoofdvaart. The contractor is investigating the cause. They will take measures to ensure it functions correctly.
The construction included 3.8 kilometers of quay and maintenance paths. Workers created about 7 kilometers of waterways. They built several inlet, outlet, and culvert structures. They also added one traffic bridge and five agricultural bridges.
A dike surrounds Piekberging Haarlemmermeer. The dike averages 2.5 meters in height. The storage can hold 1 million cubic meters of water. This equals 400 Olympic swimming pools.
The location of Piekberging Haarlemmermeer is ideal. It’s near the Kagerplassen. Many large boezem waterways converge here. Water from the central Rijnland area can quickly flow here. The polder’s depth means a small area can store much water. Piekberging Haarlemmermeer uses the nearby Gemaal De Leeghwater to pump water out. No extra pumping stations are needed.
The construction of Piekberging Haarlemmermeer cost almost 40 million euros. This includes the land purchase. The project received a European subsidy.
Piekberging Haarlemmermeer is not open to the public for recreation. After completion, the land is leased for agricultural use. The area is designed to fit into the landscape. It maintains its agricultural function. The current arable land has been converted to grassland. This maintains the area’s agricultural appearance.
So, remember Piekberging Haarlemmermeer. It stands ready to protect the region. It prevents flooding and showcases innovative water management.