Coastal protection catalysing the expansion of the port

Expectations on sea-level rise and the national norms on coastal defence are accelerating. The primary defence line in the port of The Hague (Scheveningen) needs to be reconceptualized in the light of this dynamics. Positive outcome is that it offers a window of opportunity to approach the port development from an integrated perspective in which interests of safety, urban development and tourism can be synergized and enforced together.

The Delta Program has introduced a new norm and assessment system for coastal defence in 2019. The defence system needs to meet this standard in 2050 and the assessment will be done in this manner from 2020 (probability approach?) The expectation is that the current defence system will fail the assessment in the future. The water board and RWS need to improve the defence system on the short term and they are looking into the potential of an integrated approach.

The port and urban districts around it are outside of the primary defence line, the dike, which is situated on the Westduinweg. The main question tackled in the research is: How can this area be safe in the future considering (the insecurities of) sea-level rise?

There are different scenarios (a time span of developments is 8-10 years) for the position of the new defence line that influences the opportunities but they all need to meet these ‘no regret’ measures:
– Safety – enforcement of the defence and upgrade of weak links
– Connectivity – transport between port and city
– Economic & Ecology – expansion of the port and nature development

This assignment is part of ongoing research done by the municipality The Hague in facing the effects of climate change and their position at the coast.