Nature paradise on Marker Wadden

Marker Wadden is the newest piece of the Netherlands: a group of nature islands bringing new life to the Markermeer. Through beautiful footpaths and unique bird-watching spots, visitors can enjoy the new natural paradise for plants, insects, fish and birds. Hupkes Houthandel supplied much of the wood for the jetties and decking paths through a sandy and swampy environment.

The Marker Wadden is a unique nature reserve under development. The nature islands were constructed with sand, clay and silt from the Markermeer and contribute to the natural recovery of the Markermeer. Both underwater and above water. Not only a natural paradise for fish and birds, but also a wonderful recreational island. And all this just in our own country, off the coast of Flevoland. Since September 2018, Haveneiland has been open to the public. This main island of Marker Wadden has a total of 12 kilometers of hiking trails and three remarkable bird-watching huts.

Hupkes Timber Trade supplied much of the lumber for the scaffolding and decking paths through a sandy and marshy environment.

Huge stock of lumber for civil engineering

Almost all of the wood on the main island was installed by Flora Nova Construction Works. "Barely six months we had the time to realize the jetties, decking paths and bird-watching huts," Adri Timmerman knows. "We were strictly bound to the completion date of Sept. 8, 2018, the time when the official opening was scheduled. It wasn't until March of that year that the drawings were final. Then it's nice when you can rely on suppliers who can supply large quantities of timber for the civil engineering industry from stock. Hupkes Houthandel is such a party with an enormous stock of Azobé and Demerara Groenhart and Basralocus poles. Perhaps even the largest stock in Western Europe. An additional advantage is that Hupkes is still itself (one of the few ) in the Netherlands to cut and process Azobé round timber to size."

Through beautiful hiking trails and unique bird-watching spots, visitors can enjoy the new natural paradise for plants, insects, fish and birds.

Absolutely the top

Demerara Groenhart with durability class 1 and strength class D70 is unbeatable for poles and absolutely the top, according to Timmerman. "An ideal product for application in this environment. We therefore used this type of wood by far the most for the substructure of the jetties, supplemented by Basralocus and Cloeziana roundwood posts." In total, some 95 m³ to Demerara Greenheart and Basralocus processed, 76 m³ to Cloeziana roundwood posts and 109 m³ Azobé, also cut to length and fitted with lip welds and bevels. "Azobé was used for the kesps, girders, rubbing purlins and decking of the jetties, among other things. The largest jetty, which serves for arrivals and departures for brown fleet boats, is the only one resting on a steel structure, but it is 'encased' with Azobé and thus also appears to be constructed of wood."

For the Flora Nova employees, it was unusual and sometimes even tropical conditions there at the Marker Wadden. Timmerman: "The hot spring and scorching hot summer made it look like a desert at times. The means of transportation for our employees suited the conditions well in that respect. We had chartered a former 'Dakar jeep' for transportation. All in all, a wonderful and above all unique project for us." Hupkes Houthandel is also proud of the final result. Director Stefan Meinhardt especially also looks back on a pleasant cooperation with Flora Nova.