Chapter 7
Restoration of Dune Mobility
in The Netherlands
Sebastiaan M. Arens, Quirinus L. Slings, Luc H. W. T. Geelen
and Harrie G. J. M. Van der Hagen
7.1 Introduction
Coastal dunes in The Netherlands are part of important, multifunctional landscapes. In addition to their geomorphological values, they harbor many rare
species, of both flora and fauna, protect the hinterland from flooding, provide us
with drinking water, and serve as recreational space. Sustainable management of
this landscape demands a thorough understanding of the system. The exact origin
of many coastal dune systems in the world is unknown. In the literature, several
hypotheses regarding the origin of mobile dunes are explained. One hypothesis
argues the dunes are related to large-scale coastal processes, leading to a massive
input of sand into the coastal system, particularly as the sea level rises in the
postglacial marine transgression. In this case, the birth of coastal dunes is the result
of sand supply forced by sea level rise. Another hypothesis claims that large-scale
mobile dunes must be related to the remobilization of older systems due to coastal
erosion and enhanced by climatic fluctuations. A third hypothesis attributes dune
mobility to human activity, caused by the destruction of vegetation through wood
gathering for fuel, overgrazing, and other exploiting activities.
S. M. Arens (&)
Bureau for Beach and Dune Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
e-mail: arens@duinonderzoek.nl
Q. L. Slings
nv PWN Drinking Water Company, Velserbroek, The Netherlands
L. H. W. T. Geelen
Research and Development, Waternet, Vogelenzang, The Netherlands
H. G. J. M. Van der Hagen
Dunea, Voorburg, The Netherlands
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_7,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
107
Restoration of Dune Mobility
in The Netherlands
Sebastiaan M. Arens, Quirinus L. Slings, Luc H. W. T. Geelen
and Harrie G. J. M. Van der Hagen
7.1 Introduction
Coastal dunes in The Netherlands are part of important, multifunctional landscapes. In addition to their geomorphological values, they harbor many rare
species, of both flora and fauna, protect the hinterland from flooding, provide us
with drinking water, and serve as recreational space. Sustainable management of
this landscape demands a thorough understanding of the system. The exact origin
of many coastal dune systems in the world is unknown. In the literature, several
hypotheses regarding the origin of mobile dunes are explained. One hypothesis
argues the dunes are related to large-scale coastal processes, leading to a massive
input of sand into the coastal system, particularly as the sea level rises in the
postglacial marine transgression. In this case, the birth of coastal dunes is the result
of sand supply forced by sea level rise. Another hypothesis claims that large-scale
mobile dunes must be related to the remobilization of older systems due to coastal
erosion and enhanced by climatic fluctuations. A third hypothesis attributes dune
mobility to human activity, caused by the destruction of vegetation through wood
gathering for fuel, overgrazing, and other exploiting activities.
S. M. Arens (&)
Bureau for Beach and Dune Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
e-mail: arens@duinonderzoek.nl
Q. L. Slings
nv PWN Drinking Water Company, Velserbroek, The Netherlands
L. H. W. T. Geelen
Research and Development, Waternet, Vogelenzang, The Netherlands
H. G. J. M. Van der Hagen
Dunea, Voorburg, The Netherlands
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_7,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
107