After talks with local people, Staatsbosbeheer dropped the old plan, although soil had already been put into the lake. That soil, brought in along the route through Papenvoort, Oostereind and Tienmaatsweg, will be covered with half a metre of clean soil. Whether more soil will be needed after that, and how much, will only be clear once the design is finished.
The ideas can be about the nature, the layout and the way visitors experience the area, and also about a different route for transporting soil. Staatsbosbeheer does set limits: the design only covers the area within the edges of the former sand pit, which will remain nature and must deliver as much natural value as possible. It has also been settled that the banks will be finished safely, with a slope of at least 1 in 4, and that the sand martin nesting wall will be restored.
Walkers, cyclists and horse riders will be able to use the existing paths there between sunrise and sunset, but motor vehicles will remain banned and no extra recreational facilities will be added.
At the end of November, Staatsbosbeheer will present a first sketch design at a meeting in the area. The final design will be the basis for the permits, and that procedure will again leave room for public comment, objections and appeals. Work is expected to start in the course of 2026. The starting points and a map of the area are on Staatsbosbeheer’s project page.