Minister Mark Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management (VVD) has made a final decision about the Lob van Gennep.
He opted for raising the dikes over a distance of 11 kilometers in order to better protect the area between Mook and Gennep against high Meuse water. 5 kilometers of new dikes will also be constructed.
Preference decision
In June last year, then-Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (VVD) already took a so-called draft preference decision to the same effect. Opinions could still be submitted. Her successor Harbers has now finally made the decision. In practice, this means that it is now possible to start working out the plans in detail. These should be ready in the course of 2024.
Then the implementation starts. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.
Villages not under water
The final choice of Minister Harbers also means that the controversial scenario in which five villages in the top of North Limburg would be flooded during extremely high water will be abolished for good. This concerned Ven-Zelderheide, Ottersum, Plasmolen, Middelaar and Milsbeek.
Also read: Flooding Lob van Gennep definitively off the track
seven centimeters
The higher and partly new dikes in the area between Mook and Gennep cause an average drop of seven centimeters in the water level between Gennep and the Brabantse Biesbosch. As a result, the dikes in Noord-Brabant and Gelderland need to be raised less to provide protection against high water. With the raised dykes, a probability of flooding of once every 300 years is assumed.
More attractive area
In addition to raising the dyke, the Lob van Gennep project also includes a series of measures to make the area more attractive. For example, there will be new walking and cycling paths on the water, walking paths and more planting and Maasheggen. The football fields of Achates in Ottersum will also be relocated, making it possible to create a green dike and giving nature development in the Niersdal more space.