Sustainable collaboration at the Haringvliet

Anyone crossing the Haringvliet dam onto the island of Goeree-Overflakkee probably does not realize how special this place is. As much as 60% of all water from European rivers flows into the North Sea via the Haringvliet here. But also on the nearby patch of land at Stellendam—the Noordereiland—unique things are happening, says Marlies de Kraauw, manager of the visitor centre at the seal rehabilitation centre A Seal located there.

“We care for injured, orphaned, and sick seals. But in our visitor centre we also explain why we do this and talk about many other activities in the area related to sustainability, nature, and the environment. For example, we previously had an exhibition about fisheries in collaboration with the fish auction. And last year, visitors could experience in virtual reality how the Haringvliet sluices protect our country from the water. Quite fitting, as the building we are in used to be a visitor centre for those sluices. We overlook them from here.”

Collaborating on an exhibition

For that virtual experience, A Seal worked together with Rijkswaterstaat, the manager of the sluices. This collaboration is now leading to a new exhibition.

De Kraauw explains: “Our relationship with Rijkswaterstaat goes back a long way. Contacts there have always been very enthusiastic about our work. So I was immediately curious when I learned they were going to build an Offshore Expertise Centre (OEC) across the road for the MIVSP. When I looked into it, I discovered many overlaps with our core themes: sustainability, nature, and the environment.”

“MIVSP connects to offshore wind farms that generate sustainable energy. They collect all kinds of data from the North Sea, including ecological data—for example about migratory birds and bats. That’s why I asked if we could present their story in our centre. That’s how a pleasant and inspiring collaboration emerged.”

Making personal impact visible

The challenge of the exhibition was to make the topic interesting for visitors who primarily come to see seals. “That’s why I involved Tom Kleyn from Blueboost,” says De Kraauw. “He can visualize complex topics in an accessible way.” Kleyn was immediately enthusiastic: “The transition to renewable energy often feels abstract and distant for people. By clearly showing what is happening here at the Haringvliet and on the North Sea—and what role data plays—you make it tangible. Visitors can see what impact it has and how everything is connected.” The exhibition links themes such as renewable energy, nature conservation, and data collection in an accessible way. This allows visitors to better understand how developments at sea affect both nature and society.

Learning from eachother

The collaboration between the different organizations goes beyond the exhibition alone. By working together, they exchange knowledge and strengthen each other’s initiatives. The physical proximity—being located in the same area—lowers the threshold for cooperation and encourages new ideas. This creates a network in which parties from different sectors—government, nature conservation, energy, and communication—find each other more easily.

A sustainable area experience

The ultimate goal is to give visitors a complete and educational experience of the Haringvliet area. By combining stories about seals, offshore wind energy, ecological data, and water management, a broader narrative emerges about sustainability and the future of the North Sea region. In this way, collaboration at the Haringvliet not only leads to innovative projects, but also helps raise awareness among a wide audience about the importance of sustainability.