'Bottleneck' near Oeffelt tackled for water level lowering

Until the end of 2022, 7 parties (the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the provinces of Limburg and Brabant, the water boards Aa and Maas and Limburg, the municipality of Boxmeer and Staatsbosbeheer) will work out the plans for Room for the Meuse near Oeffelt. Work will start in early 2023 and be completed in 2028.

Near Oeffelt, the Meuse has narrowed, due to the foundations of the provincial road and the former railroad line, the German Line. This has created a so-called 'bottle neck' in the Meuse. This 'bottle neck' pushes up the water and can lead to possible new floods in the future during extremely high water levels. The aforementioned parties are joining forces to solve this situation.

Delegate Elies Lemkes of the Province of Brabant on the importance of this project: "We are going to provide a water level reduction of about 21 centimeters of the Meuse during extreme high water. For this we are making two openings in the foundations of the provincial road and the 'Duits Lijntje'. And we will lower the flood plain of the Meuse locally. This will reduce the danger of flooding at extremely high water. With this approach we see opportunities to preserve and strengthen the valuable cultural-historical landscape of the Maasheggengebied, an area with UNESCO biosphere reserve status."

Environment is involved

After the summer vacations the plan execution phase will start. The surrounding area will be involved in the project by organizing various working workshops and information evenings, during which the plans will be further elaborated together with the local community. Commissioner Lemkes: "There is a lot of knowledge present in the area. This is very valuable. Especially since we are trying to link the tasks in the area intelligently. We are convinced that we can find sustainable solutions in conjunction with other tasks.
We strive for a balance in water, nature, landscape, cultural history and recreation. With support for the plans, a water-safe nature area must be created that fits within the cultural-historical context of the Meuse, Oeffelt and Gennep. A beautiful part of the Northern Meuse Valley with its characteristic Maasheggen. If Maasheggen disappears there will be compensation through the creation of new Maasheggen in suitable nature outside the project area."
The project is part of the Meuse Delta Program and ties in with the Northern Meuse Valley area process. Provinces, municipalities, water boards, Rijkswaterstaat and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management together face the challenge of ensuring high-water safety along the Meuse. Through various projects they are working on high water safety of the Meuse.

For more information see the animation video