Ravenstein waterfront

Catalyst for sustainable development of the waterfront in the Delta programme, the national and regional government have opted for a preferred strategy consisting of a combination of dike reinforcement and river widening in the IJsselmeer region and along the Rhine and Meuse and the rivers into which they discharge as flood protection measures. The Delta programme 2015 highlighted six (pilot) projects for the River Meuse as promising projects that could be implemented in the short term. Ravenstein waterfront is one of these.

The development vision for Ravenstein waterfront takes its cue from the widely supported vision for the future development of Ravenstein waterfront dating from 2008, drawn up by the Oss local authority in conjunction with interested parties in the region. The ambition is to restore the historical coherence and the contact between the town and the river under the motto ‘Ravenstein back on the Meuse’.

The principles of the old vision have been supplemented with the necessary flood protection measures and new insights of local parties. We have reviewed the vision for the waterfront of 2008 in various sessions and discussions with the parties involved. An unabated support and enthusiasm emerged from them to get down to work on developing the waterfront. The 2008 vision for Ravenstein waterfront offers a good basis for the area. By going into it in more depth, the development perspective has been brought into sharper focus with an adaptive development trajectory to enable more flexibility in reacting to uncertainties and developments in the long term.

The development trajectory has also been harmonised better with the need for flood protection and the current opportunities in the area. A better use of the cultural historical values of the Southern Water Line and its potential for tourism and recreation must contribute to the sustainable reinforcement of its vitality, attractiveness and local economy, hand in hand with the cultivated and uncultivated landscape surroundings.