Dredger In Dollard Near Nieuw Statenzijl, Netherlands Editorial Photo

The Dollard area, which borders the Eems estuary, came into existence between 1280 and 1550 approximately. Under the influence of growing environmental awareness, it was decided in 1975 not to reclaim any more of the Dollard and to designate it a nature reserve. The Dollard consists of mud flats, sandbanks, channels and salt marshes. It is one of Europe’s last brackish water tidal areas. To restore the natural profile of the gas pipeline used for transporting gas between Norway and The Netherlands, partly exposed by natural erosion processes and subsequent morphological changes in the course of the main tidal channel, dredgers have to work here.