This new area is situated at the Delfland coast near The Hague. It was constructed in front of the existing coast, between 2008-2009, by beach and fore shore nourishment. After initial nourishment, full opportunity was given to spontaneous processs of dune formation, wind and water. Wind activity can be clearly seen. Left is the, nowformer, fore dune ridge. An elongated dune valley extends in themiddle. It will in time become moist when hydrological conditions have finally established. A new fore dune ridge is at right, facing the North Sea. Vegetation development is still in an initial phase, mainly with Marram (Ammophila arenaria) and Sand couch (Agropyron junceiforme/Elymus farctus). The new dune area is under the protection of Natura 2000, the EUnetwork of priority habitats.

The area is meant as compensation for predicted losses of important nature values in existing dunes nearby. These will be affected by the airborne emission (notably NOx) of harbour traffic from the newest extension of the Port of Rotterdam, Maasvlakte 2, which will be in operation from 2015. Looking south, in the distance is Maasvlakte 1, a former harbour extension. Both these extensions have been constructed by reclaiming part of the shallowNorth Sea. (Photograph by Frank van der Meulen, Frank van der Meulen Consultancy, Frank.vandermeulen@hetnet.nl,  www.frankvandermeulen-consultancy.nl, The Netherlands, September 2012.)