Delta Commissioner's weblog - week 33 2010
Living in the Delta
This week I was present at the impressive Sail In Parade in Amsterdam. I wasn't on a boat with officials but rather on a sloop with the organisers of Kunst- en Energieroute (Art and Energy Route) exhibition that it was my pleasure to open on Thursday afternoon at the former NDSM shipyard. Very interesting and well worth visiting. Especially the designs for 53 self-sufficient houseboats. Completely sustainable and ready to be built and lived in. Do take a look on www.opgewekt.nu.
A day later, on Friday, I gave an introductory talk on the Dutch Delta Approach at the international Day of the Deltas conference at the Sail grounds in Amsterdam. The conference was well organised by the province of Noord-Holland and in particular executive councillor Rinske Kruisinga. I was able to inform the conference participants that Minister Eurlings has decided that the solution for strengthening the last two weak links along the coast of Noord-Holland (Petten and Kop van Noord-Holland) will be 'sandy' and hybrid in nature. A maximum of 250 million euros has been made available. The province will draw up a plan that can be realised within this budget. Good news, also for the Delta Programme, because the chosen solution is in line with the coastal vision we are aiming for.
This week I also made a working visit to the Deltares knowledge institute in Delft. Good presentations and talks chaired by the institute’s director Harry Baaijen. I also spoke with the chair of the FNV Trade Union Federation Agnes Jongerius, who holds the Delta Programme close to her heart as a positive and binding programme for our country.
At the start of the week, with my staff, I went through the weeks ahead leading up to Prinsjesdag (state opening of Parliament) and the 1st National Delta Congress on 4 November. Next Tuesday I have been invited to close – for the first time – the sliding gate in the new water retaining wall in Harlingen. The last part of the Dutch coast to be brought up to the old delta level. On Wednesday and Thursday a working visit to the Wadden sub-programme is on the agenda. I am looking forward to it.