Marker Wadden
Artificial archipelago in the Netherlands
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The Marker Wadden is an artificial archipelago developed in the Markermeer between 2016 and 2021, a lake in the Netherlands. The first island was inaugurated on 24 September 2016.[1] It is a nature reserve alternative to the much bigger proposed Markerwaard polder that was begun in 1941, but paused following World War II and finally canceled in 2003.
| Marker Wadden | |
|---|---|
 Marker Wadden Location in the Markermeer | |
| Location | Municipality of Lelystad, Flevoland, Netherlands |
| Coordinates | 52°35′N 5°23′E |
1 = prototype
2 = Trintelzand
3 = Marker Wadden
in pale = proposed islands (in 2022).
Project
The project was proposed in 2012 by the Vereniging Natuurmonumenten.[2][3][4] The Dutch government, BirdLife Netherlands, ANWB, and VNO-NCW are partners in its development.[citation needed]
Work on the first phase, which is mainly focused on the construction of the first island, started in April 2016,[5] with Royal Boskalis being awarded the contract.[6]
The main aims of the project are to create breeding grounds, islands, and coast line as well as to improve the water ecology of the Markermeer. The project creates a wetland comparable with the Wadden Sea—hence the name of the project—yet without tides. This is because the Markermeer is not connected to the sea and is in a fresh water environment. The nature reserve is accessible to tourists.[7] There is a ferry service from the city of Lelystad, itself a city built on reclaimed IJsselmeer land.
On 11 May 2016, the first new island was completed, Natuurmonumenten called this a "milestone". In March 2017, it was announced that four other islands should be completed before 2020.[8][needs update]
Flora and fauna
The islands have been colonized by large numbers of breeding birds. A colony of 200 breeding pairs of pied avocet has made the islands their home, as has a large colony of common tern. Little terns also breed on the islands. Northern shoveler, gadwall, garganey, Mediterranean gull, spoonbill, long-tailed duck and numerous other species of birds have been seen on and around the islands.
Participants
Contributions: Dutch government €19,000,000.[1]
Controversy
The ecologist Wouter van Dieren claimed he first had the idea in 1996 and talks about "plagiarism".[9]
Events
In March 2024 Marker Wadden was the focus of a 50-strong scientific ecological conference investigating aspects of water ecology and coastal science organised by the Netherlands Centre for Coastal Research.[10]