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.