King Willem-Alexander Visits The Rich North Sea and Ecowende

His Majesty the King will pay a working visit on the morning of Thursday, 24 September, to The Rich North Sea and Ecowende at Ecowende’s onshore service base in IJmuiden. The visit will focus on the energy transition, nature restoration, and food production in the North Sea. Each of these challenges requires space and smart decision-making. The visit demonstrates that nature forms the foundation for energy and food security and highlights how nature, offshore wind energy, and food production at sea can reinforce one another.

Innovation on Display

The working visit will begin with a tour showcasing various innovations and practical projects in offshore wind energy, nature enhancement, and food production. The King will be informed about state-of-the-art ecological monitoring techniques, including underwater and aerial drones, the latest nature restoration methods deployed in offshore wind farms, and sustainable forms of fishing.

Employees and researchers from The Rich North Sea, Ecowende, Robin Radar, Lobster Robotics, DMEC, the Pot Fishing Agency, Krijn Verwijs, and Waardenburg Ecology will present their work and engage in discussions with the King.

The Importance of a Collaborative Approach

Following the tour, a roundtable discussion will be held on the challenges and opportunities involved in combining these three objectives. The King will speak with representatives from environmental organizations, wind farm owners, grid operators, scientific institutions, and the fishing sector.

The solutions affect all users of the North Sea and underline the importance of working together. Nature restoration and development are essential prerequisites for a successful energy transition and long-term food security.

About the Organizations Hosting the Visit

The Rich North Sea demonstrates how the energy transition and underwater nature can strengthen one another. The program is a collaboration between the environmental organization Natuur & Milieu and Stichting De Noordzee. Using innovative methods, The Rich North Sea investigates how nature-enhancing measures in offshore wind farms contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem. The program is involved in various nature development projects in Dutch offshore wind farms.

Ecowende is the developer of what is currently the most ecological offshore wind farm to date. Ecowende is committed to restoring and strengthening biodiversity and aims to accelerate the large-scale deployment of offshore wind energy in the Netherlands and beyond. Ecology is the guiding principle of the project, based on the belief that renewable energy generation must become significantly more sustainable.