All inclusive

The design had to reconcile the desired attractiveness of the beach area and the tourist offers with the concerns of nature conservation and coastal protection.

Goals and Chal­lenges

Tourism is an important economic factor for the Norden district, because the North Sea coast is a very popular tourist desti­na­tion. In order to increase the attrac­ti­ve­ness of the region and to assert itself against the offers of the islands of Norderney and Juist directly oppo­site, the aim was to create versa­tile leisure acti­vi­ties which could be used by ever­yone. So acces­si­bi­lity was of the grea­test importance in the entire project area, from the dyke crossing to the water’s edge.

The design had to recon­cile the desired attrac­ti­ve­ness of the beach area and the tourist offers with the concerns of nature conser­va­tion and coastal protec­tion. In addi­tion, the connec­tion of the village Nord­deich with the dune and beach land­scape had to be improved.

The total cons­truc­tion cost was around €17 million gross.

The promenade offers visitors a barrier-free circular route along the dyke, the dunes, the beach and the water’s edge. 

Circular route and World Natural Heri­tage

The heart of the project is the prome­nade, which is laid out as a circular path. It offers visi­tors a barrier-free circular route along the dyke, the dunes, the beach and the water’s edge. A new, barrier-free ramp system at the guest’s house makes it easier to cross the dyke.

Along the edge of the water, the newly built revet­ment and the stair­cases in it shape the image. These exten­sive stair­cases offer gene­rous faci­li­ties for sitting and lying down as well as access to the water. They are also equipped with showers and foot showers. A ramp system with a slope of three percent also allows people with disa­bi­li­ties to access the water.

Another goal of the reno­va­tion of the Nord­deich National Park prome­nade was to make the Wadden Sea World Heri­tage tangible for visi­tors. In addi­tion to the rede­sign of the dune, an educa­tional trail with 20 stations, a salt marsh land­scape, an infor­ma­tion container as well as play and adven­ture elements for children and young people were also created.

Problems and pecu­lia­ri­ties

Due to the influence of the tides, espe­ci­ally during the storm tides, and the cons­truc­tion in the tidal area, all the struc­tures and instal­la­tions had to be stati­cally dimen­sioned against the maximum water level and wave impact. Step systems, ramps and the revet­ment to the Wadden Sea could only be erected at low water, i.e. in a time window of just six hours.

For reasons of dyke protec­tion, all the other faci­li­ties had to be built in a way which made them easy to dismantle, because this is what will happen to them at the begin­ning of the storm tide season – inclu­ding showers, play and sports equip­ment, fitness equip­ment, wooden benches, sani­tary and infor­ma­tion contai­ners as well as the handrails into the Wadden Sea.

The aim was to give all guests the opportunity to experience the promenade and the Wadden Sea regardless of any restrictions they might have.

A journey for all

The design should also meet the acces­si­bi­lity quality criteria for a “Travel for All” certi­fi­ca­tion. The aim was to give all guests the oppor­tu­nity to expe­ri­ence the prome­nade and the Wadden Sea regard­less of any rest­ric­tions they might have. “Travel for All” is a rating and infor­ma­tion system which allows guests to assess the suita­bi­lity of tourist offers for their indi­vi­dual needs them­selves.

Conclu­sion

The new Nord­deich National Park prome­nade merges the concerns of nature and coastal protec­tion and the inte­rests of tourism into a symbiosis which is profi­table in every respect.

Visible results are the direct acces­si­bi­lity of the Wadden Sea via barrier-free ramps and steps, the crea­tion of an extra­or­di­nary leisure, sports and games offer as well as the preser­va­tion and reha­bi­li­ta­tion of the dune, salt meadow and Wadden Sea.

Of course, this exem­plary project is also a great benefit for all users, whether or not they have rest­ricted mobi­lity, for old and young, locals and holi­day­makers — simply for all people.