City Artist (Stadskunstenaar) WATER REPORTS
After her (nationwide) project ‘Monuments of Climate Change’, Anja de Jong, as City Artist of Dordrecht (2021-2024), investigates in ‘WATER REPORTS’ how the Dordrecht region deals with water. While ‘Monuments of Climate Change’ focuses on the endless adjustments in the Dutch landscape to keep feet dry, in WATER REPORTS she focuses not only on water safety, but also on the quality of life in her immediate (residential) environment.
Dordrecht, located 54 km inland (by water), has been able to rely on its seaports for centuries, but is also in the dubious possession of the lowest seawall in the Netherlands, the Voorstraat running straight through the center. The Eiland van Dordrecht is located at the busiest river junction in Europe and has to deal with water from the sea as well as from upstream towards the city. Historically, the city was already in a problematic location in terms of water safety, but with the increasing risks of climate change, the question of protection and quality of life of the Eiland van Dordrecht is/appears to be an enormous task.
The City Artistship is commissioned by and a collaboration between the Dordrecht Museum, the Dordrecht Regional Archives and the Kunstkerk. The result of the image research will be exhibited from August 31 under the title WATERBERICHTEN (WATER REPORTS) in the Kunstkerk in Dordrecht and will be included in the image collection of the Archive on October 13.
Open Maeslantkering
Economically, Dordrecht benefits from an open connection to the sea, which is why this seawater barrier (1997) closes only at a water level of +2.90m NAP at Dordrecht, together with the Hartelkering, to protect >1 ½ million people in Zuid-Holland South.
In order to drain large quantities of river water led to the sea, at a water level >2m NAP in the middle of the Noordwaard, which has been de-poldered for this purpose, a flow area is created from the River Nieuwe Merwede towards the Hollandsch Diep and this area becomes flooded, so that the Eiland van Dordrecht is partly spared during such a flood peak.
Voorstraat by the sea
This residential/shopping street with buildings adjacent to the Voorstraathaven is the lowest seawall in the Netherlands. Despite many plans to raise this dike, practical feasibility, preservation of the cityscape and the construction of the Maeslant and Hartel barriers have prevented this so far.
In order to create a sustainable water flow system on the Eiland van Dordrecht, together with new nature and recreation, this old agricultural area has been developed since 2019 into an inner dike Biesbosch-like landscape; a buffer between National Park De Biesbosch and the city of Dordrecht.
By digging a breach in its outer dike (2012), this former polder is once again part of the river system and so, together with the Zuidplaatje, it is part of the ecological connection between the Dordrecht and Sliedrecht parts of the National Park De Biesbosch.
Four-river junction
On this spot the rivers Oude Maas, Noord, Beneden Merwede and the smaller Wantij flow together, form the busiest navigation junction in Europe with around 150,000 passing ships per year. The water level in this area is determined by both river runoff and the influence of the sea.
Merwedeheuvel
In 2015, the municipality of Dordrecht presented a plan for waste disposal in the Derde Merwedehaven. After covering and settling, the mountain of 9 million m3 of waste would be safely 'transformed' into a recreational area for cyclists and walkers. The opening is expected in 2024.
Located in the new Stadswerven district, 5 villas float in the River Wantij. A special experiment that is unfortunately not yet available to everyone, but that deserves to be followed in view of the near future with expected high water levels.
Rijkswaterstaat has developed plans to create freshwater tidal nature in the River Boven en Beneden Merwede area in order to comply with the European Water Framework Directive. This biodiverse polder in the Merwelanden will be the possible location (despite much resistance).
