Clean water for Haagse Bos

The nature in the Haagse Bos will get a boost. Forest rangers are installing a water filter system to clean the water in the forest’s canals and ponds. The forest will then be transformed into an independent polder which regulates its own water. No external water will then flow into the forest.

Haagse Bos

Clean water

Cleaner surface water will boost the animal and plant life in and around the water. Filtered water will increase the water’s visibility. This will benefit fish, salamanders, frogs and also extraordinary bird species like the kingfisher, increasing biodiversity in the Haagse Bos. Clean water also minimises the presence of nutrients, which means less algae will grow in the canals during hot summers.

Water pollution from city

Water in the canals and ponds of the Haagse Bos have been of mediocre quality for years, because the forest shares a polder with part of the city. Polluted waters flow directly into the forest. This situation can go particularly wrong with heavy downpours. If sewage gutters can’t process the surge of rainwater, the overflow runs directly into the canals and flows into the forest. The Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland (Delfland Water Board) and Staatsbosbeheer (national forest management) are doing their best to prevent this.

Water pomp and filter

A new water filter is being installed especially for the Haagse Bos. The filter will be constructed at the edge of the forest near the Utrechtsebaan. A water pump will be placed underground in order to minimise the impact on the forest as much as possible. Work will take place after the summer.