Keywords: onshore barrier dune, water supply, nature management, tourism & recreation, management plan
 

Contact:	Tourism & Recreation; Management Plan: W.K.A.G. Beekelaar, Amsterdam Water Supply, Vogelezangseweg 21, 2114 BA  Vogelenzang, The Netherlands, tel: ++31-23-5233690
	Nature Management: L.H.W.T. Geelen, Amsterdam Water Supply, Vogelezangseweg 21, 2114 BA Vogelenzang, The Netherlands, tel: ++31-23-5233574

Location: provinces North and South Holland, The Netherlands

Introduction

The Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes (AWD) are located in the provinces North and South Holland in the Netherlands, and are located on the territory of the towns Zandvoort, Bloemendaal, Noordwijk and Noordwijkerhout (see: Map Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes and surroundings). The dunes cover an area of 3400 ha, stretching 8 kilometres along the Dutch North Sea coast with a width varying from 1.5 to 5 kilometres. The Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes constitute 8,5% of the Younger Dunes of the Netherlands (see: Geology and genesis).

The area is owned by the Municipality of Amsterdam and managed by the Amsterdam Water Supply (AWS). Management is conducted on the basis of the management plan drawn up by the municipal council.

A highly urbanised area surrounds the dunes; 6 million inhabitants live within a radius of 50 kilometres. In this densely populated area, the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes accommodate four functions: the two main functions are the production of drinking water and nature conservation, secondary functions are recreation and sea defence.
Since 1853 the Amsterdam Municipal Water Supply has extracted water from the dunes. Each year 70 million m3 of drinking water is extracted for approximately 1,1 million users in the city of Amsterdam and the surrounding area (see: Water supply).
The dunes make up part of the core ecological areas of the Netherlands and are protected by the Nature Conservation Act. Great abiotic diversity and long-term extensive influence on the area by man have led to a great variety of habitats. From a landscape, cultural-historical and natural science point of view, this area is one of exceptional value (see: Natural values and functions). Since 1989 an extensive multi-disciplinary research started about the effects of water abstraction on nature and how to adjust the techniques of water abstraction to restore nature. In 1998 an eco-hydrological survey was completed and several projects described in this survey have already been implemented (see: Nature management).
Tourism and recreation is an important function of the AWD because of its location in a highly urbanised area, but it is secondary to water supply and nature management. The largest part of the area is accessible for nature-orientated recreation (only by foot) but there is a small area that is not accessible to avoid trampling, disturbance and fragmentation of nature and to ensure drinking water quality guarantee (see: Map Entrance Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes).
The sea defence function is restricted to the first 100 metres from the beach.
 

References:

• Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes (1998) Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes; Implementation of eco-hydrological research; in: Coastline 7-3, EUCC. (KJd)
• Bakker J. G. & Lengkeek J. (1999) Monitoringsonderzoek recreatie Amsterdamse waterleidingduinen deel II: Onderzoek naar beleving, recreatiegedrag en routepatronen van de bezoekers in 1998-1999, nota 78; Wageningen Universiteit en Researchcentrum, Vakgroep Ruimtelijke Planvorming en Grontmij Flevoland. (33R4A1DR1999)
• Beekelaar W.K.A.G. & Geelen L.H.W.T. (1999) Management scheme 2000-2010; new challenges in the Amsterdam Watersupply Dunes; in: (ed) Rabski K.: Connecting science and management in the coastal zone; proceedings of the 7th EUCC International conference Coastlines ’99, held in Miedzyzdroje, Poland, june 7-12 1999. (PC1999e#)
• Berendsen H.J.A. (1996) De Vorming van het land, inleiding in de geologie en de geomorfologie; Fysische geografie van Nederland; Van Gorcum & Comp, Assen.
• Cousin E. (1993) Natuurbeheer; in: Duin: Themanummer Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, no.1993-4, Stichting Duinbehoud. (33BCD1993)
• Cousin E. & Swart B. (1997) Recreation in the Amsterdam Waterwork Dunes (AWD): partner with nature; in: (ed) Drees J.M: Coastal Dunes: recreation and planning; proceedings of European Seminar held in Castricum, nov 1-4 1995. (DR97)
• EUCC (Doody P. et al) (1991) Sand dune inventory of Europe. (BCD1991a#)
• Gemeentewaterleiding Amsterdam (intern) (2000) CONCEPT: Terug in de toekomst, Beheer van de Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen 2000-2010. (33R4A1)
• Janssen M. (1993) Natuur in ontwikkeling; in: Duin: Themanummer Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, no.1993-4, Stichting Duinbehoud. (33BCD1993)