New 'planters' to bring more greenery to sheet pile walls

Together with Dutch Water Tech, MH Poly and Curio students, the municipality of Halderberge has started a project to green the sheet pile walls of the harbour of Oudenbosch. With the pilot, which started on Thursday, the municipality is looking at the best way to bring greenery to the edge of the harbour.

Mark den Dubbelen of Dutch Water Tech explains that the options were first explored together with Curio students. “We listened to thirty different ideas,” he says. In the end, three ideas were actually worked out.

“I think it's great to see that our idea has now become reality,” says 17-year-old Vasil Toshi. Together with fellow student Tygo Leenders he developed a system in which a planter hangs from the sheet pile wall on steel cables. “When the water rises or falls, the planters can move with it,” they explain.

The municipality is busy improving the harbour. “That's happening in all kinds of ways,” explains alderman Thomas Melisse. The municipality wants to create a pleasant area. The alderman thinks greening the sheet pile walls will improve the look. “It's also good for biodiversity and heat stress, and it contributes a little to improving water quality.”

Spot the differences

Three different systems will be tested in the coming period. The planter on the far left is attached with scaffold tubes. “The guide system runs via the scaffold tubes there,” Van Dubbelen explains. The middle planter is the one by Vasil and Tygo. It is attached with steel cables, which let the planters move up and down with the water level. The one on the far right works with magnets. “The planters are held to the sheet pile wall with magnets.”

The coming period will show which of the three options is best. “The one that comes out best in the test will be installed over a greater length,” says alderman Melisse.

Text: Stijn Nooijens, ZuidWestTV (translated from Dutch)

Link to the item and article (Dutch): https://www.zuidwestupdate.nl/nieuws/nieuwe-plantenbakken-moeten-damwanden-van-meer-groen-gaan-voorzien/