Wetland restoration and water management in the Hunze-area

By project RIWET

Published on 14 May 2025

Netherlands

Drenthe

About this good practice

The Hunze catchment area had become a straight canal, designed to drain water efficiently and support agriculture and peat extraction. This led to the loss of natural floodplains and increased flood risk—some dikes even collapsed, causing severe urban damage. Biodiversity declined both in water and on land. This triggered a vision to restore the Hunze river system, initiated by two landscape organisations and embraced by local residents and land users. A “string of pearls” of projects was developed to restore water quantity and quality, reintroduce natural flooding areas and wetlands, and secure clean drinking water. The province commissioned an implementation organisation to realise the vision with full stakeholder involvement. Projects with secured land positions were prioritised for transformation. The vision combines dynamic landscapes, natural river restoration, groundwater flow recovery, and stronger agricultural structures. It aims to reconnect the Hondsrug and the Hunze catchment. Not only nature benefits, but also species, local communities, and stakeholders such as the water board, drinking water company, municipalities, provinces, landscape and recreation organisations, and SMEs.

Resources needed

Since 2016, millions have been invested to acquire 1,957 ha and restore 1,680 ha of nature under the Natural Countryside program in Drenthe. Strong commitment is needed from directors, civil servants, and all staff involved across organisations.

Evidence of success

Since 1998, 11 wetland projects have been realised, storing over 500,000 m³ of water. Bird populations—especially meadow and marsh birds—are stable or growing. Fish migration and biodiversity have improved, as have water quality and groundwater flow. Landowners and stakeholders work together, inspired by earlier successes. Rare species like the otter and beaver have returned, and the critically endangered Carex cespitosa has been preserved through habitat restoration.

Potential for learning or transfer

The best of the practice is the creation of the Hunze vision that brought all stakeholders together, looking in the same direction now. Describing the problem – giving a lot of information on each ‘layer’ of the area putting that together and transforming it into a document of use and principle guide line. From there the water conservation and restoration, plus all other aspects of the area are brought together providing basics for the projects of the collar of pearls and wetland restoration.