Video: Limburg town lifting homes with hydraulic jacks to protect against high water

Water sweeps through Maasboulevard in Venlo, Limburg. 16 July 2021 - Credit: - License: CC-BY Innovation Friday, 9 October 2026 - 10:00

Three homes near the village of Well in Noord-Limburg will be raised by more than 1.5 meters to make them better protected against high water levels. The measure is being used as an alternative to reinforcing a dike, which would have a major impact on the surrounding landscape, according to the Limburg water authority.

The nearby Meuse River will be given more space in the area. As a result, the three homes will end up outside the dike system, but raising them will allow them to remain in place.

One of the homes in the De Kamp hamlet near Well has already been raised. Its foundation was reinforced and gradually lifted using hydraulic jacks. In the coming weeks, the contractor will install concrete retaining walls and add soil around the house, creating a raised ground level, the water authority said.

Several measures are being taken around Well to reduce the risk of flooding. Dikes near the village are being relocated and strengthened, while a previously closed side channel of the Meuse is also being reopened to give the river more room.

During the extreme rainfall in July 2021, water levels near Well rose to just below the emergency dike. Sandbags were among the measures used at the time to prevent flooding.

Water authority board member has said that the flood protection project is not only focused on water safety but also on preserving the area's quality of life and its character for local residents.

"It is also important that we discuss solutions with residents and, where possible, involve them in making decisions," Achten said.

Reporting by ANP