Grant for dike reinforcement Gorinchem-Waardenburg in the Netherlands

Waterschap Rivierenland, the client and partner in this alliance, received funding for this through the High Water Protection Program. This is an extensive and far-reaching operation in the area.

The Graaf Reinaldalliantie is a partnership of the Rivierenland Water Board with the contractors Heijmans, GMB and de Vries & van de Wiel and with Royal HaskoningDHV as advisory party.

The dike reinforcement between Gorinchem and Waardenburg is, since the new safety standard has been instituted, the first major project on the north side of the Waal River to go into execution. It involves 23 kilometers of dike, from the Dalemsewal in Gorinchem (province of South Holland) to the junction with the A2 near Waardenburg (province of Gelderland). The project is in the top 10 most urgent projects of the High Water Protection Program.

Yolande van der Meulen, chairman of the Alliance Board: "With the granting of the subsidy for the realization of the dyke reinforcement Gorinchem-Waardenburg a next phase starts. A fine example of close cooperation in an alliance of three market parties, an engineering firm and the Rivierenland Water Board. From the start of the study, a lot of knowledge and experience has been combined and used for a dynamic implementation. The result is a dike reinforcement plan that brings together various interests. I am very proud that in good cooperation with all parties we have reached this milestone! And hope to raise a glass to a high-water safe dike with everyone in 2026."

Cooperation with other governments delivers results

To ensure that the process from plans to design ran smoothly, close cooperation was sought with municipalities, provinces and the state. Among other things, this led to a complete Water Act project plan that can be viewed online. Furthermore, the dike reinforcement offers opportunities for other projects (co-opting opportunities). For example, the development of the floodplain is a result of intensive cooperation between the various authorities.

The environment is also closely involved in the levee reinforcement project

Five working groups from the area have spent the past few years considering what they think is important on and around the dike. They ensured that their ideas ended up on the agenda of the authorities involved. Not as a wish list, but to jointly discuss opportunities and bottlenecks and if possible to tackle them. This cooperation resulted in an intensive relationship between the residents involved and the Graaf Reinaldalliantie team.

Preparations for implementation are underway

This June, the proverbial shovel will actually go into the ground. The work will be done in parts. This means that it will not be the turn of the entire route at once, but work will be carried out per dike section or cluster of dike sections. During the work, the environmental managers will continue to closely involve the immediate surroundings in the activities. In 2026 the dike must be high-water safe again.

Dike reinforcement Gorinchem-Waardenburg is part of the High Water Protection Program

In the Flood Protection Program, the water boards and Rijkswaterstaat are working together on the largest dyke reinforcement operation ever since the Delta Works. 1300 kilometers of dikes will be reinforced until 2050. For the Rivierenland Water Board, this involves some 400 kilometers of dikes in the river area.