The village of Spijkerboor gets a village sum. If everything goes well, there will be a wooden walking bridge over the Hunze this summer, so that residents and recreational users can make a crossing to the wooded beaver area along the Hunze. This creates a new walk from the shortest two and a half kilometers.
The bridge comes thanks to the efforts of the Stichting Dorpsbelangen Oud-Annerveen, Nieuw-Anserveen and Spijkerboor (us). Treasurer Jannes Koops is very happy. “We wanted this bridge to come, because two nature reserves would be nicely connected and more hiking opportunities will be created. And it fits in the picture to stimulate recreation.”
The idea for the hiking bridge came up last year. Then a major redesign operation of Prolander, the province of Drenthe, the Drentse Landschap and Water Board Hunze and Aa’s in the Bever area on the other side of the Hunze began. “Instead of walking back and forth on the walking routes on either side of the Hunze, we will soon be able to link our hiking areas together,” says Koops.
The small forest, on the edge of the village of Spijkerboor, has been the residential area of a beaver family for years. Because the flood defense along the Hunze was too low, the dike was shifted a lot last year. It runs around the Beverbos. De Hunze gets more space in the event of heavy rainfall, thanks to extra water storage. And the beavers have free play in the swampy play and food forest which is created. The redesign was completed at the end of last year.
According to Koops, the idea for the new pedestrian bridge was also embraced by the municipality and province. From that side there was financial support, after which village interests could look for a suitable model. It has since been found. For 110,000 euros, a wooden bridge will be built in three parts at a company in Harlingen in the coming months. There are two bridge heads on the banks, and wooden posts in the river itself.
The pedestrian bridge will be located about two kilometers in the south of the concrete traffic bridge over the Hunze. According to Koops, the construction of the hiking bridge is De Kers on the cake of the redesign. The intention is that the new crossing will incur for the construction trade. It has been agreed with the municipality that the maintenance and management will come into the hands of the green team of Spijkerboor and the surrounding area.