Great news for residents of Swolgen, Broekhuizen and the surrounding area! The Broekhuizerbroek nature area has been fully restored and officially completed. The area is now better equipped to handle weather extremes and much nicer to visit.
What does this mean for you?
The water system has been brought back into balance. In practical terms:
- 💧 Water is retained longer during wet periods and stays available during dry spells
- 🌿 Less risk of the surrounding nature and landscape drying out
- 🚶 Better paths and accessibility, making it easier to explore the area
Commissioned by the Province of Limburg, Waterschap Limburg adjusted waterways and built water buffers. This helps nature thrive and keeps the area a lovely spot for people and wildlife alike.
What is a wet nature pearl?
A wet nature pearl is a nature area that plays a key role in retaining water. Broekhuizerbroek has historically consisted of old Maas river bends, moist grasslands, marshes and swamp forests. Research showed the area had dried out significantly and water quality had declined. That has now been fixed!
Teamwork through tough times
Planning started during the pandemic, so the team had to get creative with digital and later in-person meetings. On top of that, extremely wet weather in 2023 and 2024 caused delays. But the result speaks for itself. During a celebratory walk, residents and all partners got to see the finished product together.
Source: Gemeente Horst aan de Maas
