Beach house owners are very concerned about water ballet: “Life’s work in danger”

“The water moves up into the wood,” says Patrick Spruit (45). “When you see your life’s work in the water and you can’t reach it… it just touches your heart.”

The reflections of the houses are crystal clear in the enormous lake, which was created on the site by the high groundwater. The rain of recent months has ensured that the water here is higher than ever. No house is dry yet. “The legs are made of iron and that will rot. You have to weld it and you cannot weld in water. Then you are under electricity,” Patrick explains.

Moisture eaters

Patrick tries with everything he has to limit the water damage to his house. “We have moisture absorbers there and they are full every month. We have to go through about 30 to 40 centimeters of water to empty them. Otherwise you can throw away your house,” he sighs. Between October and March, owners are allowed on the property for two hours per month to empty the moisture absorbers.

The owners rely on the months of October and March for maintenance, because DIY is not allowed on the beach itself and DIY on site is also limited. “After storm Poly in July, we had quite a bit of damage to the houses, which we wanted to tackle. But this October was the wettest October on record. That meant you couldn’t get to your house at all anymore.” The water is currently half a meter deep.

Pipe through the dunes

According to Han Tol, chairman of beach association De Schelp, the problem lies in the fact that the water in the area was previously used for drinking water supply. But for a few years now, that no longer happens and the water accumulates. Another location is also not an option. “There are no other locations. IJmuiden is completely full.”

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What would be a solution, says Tol, is to lay a pipe through the dunes, allowing the water to drain into the inland lake. “It is in contact with the marina and then the water can drain away nicely. That’s the only solution. But this is a Natura 2000 area and that is not allowed just like that.”

“This can’t happen anymore”

The municipality also stated in a response that it is aware of the problem: “It is technically easy to solve, but it conflicts with nature legislation. The nature managers do not want water to be drained from the area and protected and protected areas grow on the verge. rare orchids.”

The municipality is therefore at a loss: “We expect the nuisance to increase further in the future because the winters are becoming increasingly wetter, the beach is becoming wider and the sea level will rise in the future.”

Tol: “We know that the municipality is really working on it. We are now waiting for permission from Natuurmonumenten and the province of North Holland. And the budget of course. The Province of North Holland, the municipality of Velsen and Natuurmonumenten just have to join in. come together and say: this cannot go on anymore.”