One of the areas of international importance for which the Netherlands has a special responsibility is the strip of coastal dunes. Almost all the Dutch dunes are part of the Natura 2000 network. Species of international importance found in these dunes include the Fen Orchid, the Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail, the Root Vole (or Northern Vole) and the Marsh Harrier.

Greater risk of fragmentation; targets are not being achieved

The Dutch dunes have been protected for a long time because of their importance for flood protection along the coast. Later, they received additional protection under the Nature Conservation Act; subsequently large areas of the dunes were designated as protected conservation areas in the Natura 2000 network. In addition, there is a strict environmental policy to safeguard the drinking water reserves within the dunes. Problems are now arising due to land use and environmental impacts from the surrounding inland areas. The negative effects of falling water tables and nitrogen deposition are being limited by various restoration measures, such as turf stripping and scrub control.

Now that it is clear that the dunes  also form an important ecosystem in a European context, we can work towards achieving various conservation objectives through the implementation of Dutch nature policy. Water supply companies own about 20% of the dune area. These companies receive no subsidies, which means that the government is unable to influence their management, for example, to achieve conservation objectives through specific packages of conservation measures. In practice, this has not proven to be a problem, and the management of the dunes is compatible with national and international conservation objectives for the dune area.

Habitat restoration in the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes. Water abstraction canals have been filled in, which has reduced water draw-down and parching, and allowed the process of erosion and accretion of dunes under the action of the wind to begin again.

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