A green connection between Dommel valley and Nuenens Broek

On Monday, April 14, 2025, De Dommel Water Board and the municipality of Nuenen jointly completed the De Rietmussen Ecological Connection Zone (EVZ) project. Alderman Sander Löwik and daily board member Martijn Tholen of Waterschap De Dommel symbolically did so by planting a tree in this new nature zone, which is part of the Dommel Valley from the Paint project.

Within Dommeldal uit de Verf we are working together with Brabants Landschap, Waterschap De Dommel, Staatsbosbeheer and the neighboring municipalities of Eindhoven, Son en Breugel and Geldrop-Mierlo on the establishment of the Brabant Nature Network.

A green ribbon

The De Rietmussen connecting zone is a green, wet zone 550 meters long between the De Rietmussen neighborhood and the Soeterbeekseweg in Nuenen. This new piece of nature is a small stepping stone, but forms an important link between the nature areas Dommeldal and Nuenens Broek. It also contributes to the further development of the Van Gogh National Park.

In this area, the watercourse was partially filled in, the banks were made flatter, a pond was dug, and the nature zone was sown with flowery grassland. Animals such as the roe deer, the badger, the alpine newt, the lesser kingfisher butterfly and the spotted tadpole will hopefully soon feel at home here. During the completion, tracks of deer were already clearly visible.

Retaining water longer

To combat desiccation, part of the watercourse has been filled in. This reduces water runoff and keeps it in the area longer. Water retention is essential for the development of water-dependent nature.

Challenges due to extremely wet year

Work began on Oct. 16, 2023. Due to extreme rainfall in the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024, work had to be temporarily halted. The soil was too wet, so the use of excavators would cause damage. In August 2024, the contractor was able to resume work.

Collaboration and funding

The design of ecological connecting zone (EVZ) De Rietmussen-Soeterbeekseweg is a joint task of Waterschap De Dommel and the municipality of Nuenen. The project was made possible by a financial contribution from the Groen Ontwikkelfonds Brabant (GOB).