The task in a nutshell: to build a dike that is robust and safe for a long time, which does not require too much maintenance in the coming years. However, the island of Marken lies on a swampy layer of peat. If you are going to build a dike on peat there, it should not completely collapse into the peat immediately. So you have to build on peat, that's quite one thing. That requires quite a lot of knowledge of how that works in terms of stability. We have now started test sections in two places to experience how sand is applied there. In the meantime, the rest of the dike's shape is being worked out, including a number of recreational and nature facilities. They must also be coordinated with the environment.

In an area task such as this there are linkage opportunities, which we develop in collaboration with administrative partners. It is not necessary for the successful completion of the project, but it is essential for the environment, for example for stakeholders such as local residents. You can think of developing nature-friendly banks, but also giving local benches on the dike an upgrade. It is an opportunity to take such things in collaboration with partners.

As an environmental manager in this team, I look at how we involve the stakeholders in this process. These are islanders, the island council, the municipality, the province, the water authority, but also local businesses and catering establishments. I have a whole list of clients as I always call it. I think it is essential to take a good look at exactly who we are doing it for, who will be affected by the project and how you communicate with them.

This is possible, for example, on the Rijkswaterstaat website. It explains what the starting point is, why it is being performed and when it will be finished. But otherwise you get little information. I also think that is the disadvantage of a traditional website, then you mainly end up with texts with the latest state of affairs and the planning.

Then I saw the online visitor center of the Lauwersmeerdijk come up on LinkedIn. I liked it so much that I immediately inquired who the maker was. What I find special about the online visitor center is that it stimulates you to look for information that you find attractive. You let people find their own way in this.

I think it's a modern way of communicating. You can find everything there and we can always add new information. We can refer to it again and again when communicating with stakeholders. The picture you are now getting is something that the most important stakeholders agree on. It's nice that there isn't much discussion anymore. I think that is important, but when you make something visual, it seems as if it is already there and that everything has already been decided. If there are several options, you have to explain very well what you are showing.

“We also have elements that are not yet completely clear. (*Wouter opens the online visitor center*) Look at the lighthouse, we are going to improve the beach, there will be new playground equipment, but we are not quite sure yet how it will turn out. We are still discussing this with the lighthouse residents and with the municipality. We therefore choose here to give a somewhat more abstract presentation with a bullet list. “

I also think that in this phase of the project it gives a kind of firmness, a kind of pride for dyke improvement in Marken. Of course they have become very beautiful images. Also for the residents themselves, I think they also like to see their island that way. I use it for communication with all kinds of stakeholders, also to promote the project among administrators and politicians. The start of the online visitor center also gave new energy to my project and to the employees.