With an Area Participation Platform, you create an interactive environment. This is extremely useful for all parties involved in an area development project. It enables project managers, municipalities, local residents, and other stakeholders to collaborate and monitor the progress of the project.
An interview with
The Dutch Water Authorities are undertaking one of the largest operations since the Delta Works: preparing all coastal and river areas for rising sea levels. A dike reinforcement project like this involves three phases: exploration, planning, and execution. The project is currently in the second phase. Although no work is physically taking place on the dike yet, much is happening behind the scenes. The Water Authority is working with around 40 different types of stakeholders to align their interests and requirements.
Silvia: "There’s a wide variety of stakeholders, and it's essential to include everyone. That’s part of our responsibility as a public authority."
"There’s a difference between the stakeholders I sit down with directly and other groups, mostly due to differing interests. I speak with environmental organizations about how we can strengthen the dike in ways that also benefit nature, or with hospitality entrepreneurs in the harbor of Lauwersoog who want to retain their customers during the construction phase. These stakeholders are deeply involved."
Information Needs
In addition, there’s a group without direct stakes who still want to be informed and involved—such as recreational users of the dike.
Hedwig: "Our communication strategy mainly focuses on this group. It's more about informing, involving them in what’s happening, and addressing their informational needs. In these cases, the experience is just as important as the technical facts."
Silvia adds: "The primary goal of our communication is to engage people by showing what we’re doing. From the outside, it may seem like nothing is happening yet, so we offer a behind-the-scenes look. We also want to show the full scope of the reinforcement—it’s not just ‘adding a bit of clay and done.’”
A Stakeholder Engagement Platform provides
- A structured way of collaborating and communicating between all involved parties, which significantly increases the chances of a successful project.
- More transparency and trust among all parties, leading to better cooperation.
- The provision of a wealth of information that can be used to monitor the project's progress and make adjustments where necessary.
Curious about more insights from Lauwersmeerdijk? Click here!
Communication Approach
Hedwig: "We’ve developed a communication strategy that uses various tools and channels to achieve our goals: a project page on the website, animations, newsletters, social media, and our Online Visitor Center. This center is a key part of our communication—it brings everything together."
"You need to keep prompting people to visit it. That’s why it works best in combination with other tools. Whenever we mention it in the newsletter or on social media, we see a clear spike in visitors. Google Analytics shows that people spend much more time in the Online Visitor Center than on regular web pages. People don’t experience it as just a website.”
Appeal and Recognition
Visitors enter through an aerial view of the dike.
Hedwig: "That image was a clear starting point—we wanted to show the entire stretch of the dike. It was a conscious choice to make it attractive and recognizable. Because many elements of the reinforcement take place at specific locations, you can pinpoint them beautifully on such an image."
Immersive Experience
Silvia: "I’m a big fan of the 360-degree views. You can really grasp the entire area. For most people, images are more impactful than technical documents. The Online Visitor Center acts as the digital gateway to our project. It draws people in and brings the project to life. We’ve even added sounds of the Wadden Sea in the background to enhance the experience."
"It’s not just about technical specs—it’s about the whole environment. We want people to feel like they’re actually there. The imagery is essential to that experience. Without it, the emotional connection would be lost. Plus, people can easily explore the surroundings and interact with the content."
The Added Value
Silvia: "For us, the immersive quality is the real added value of the Online Visitor Center. All the factual information could be shared elsewhere, but the way it’s presented here captures a broader audience and keeps them engaged for longer. We’re very happy with it, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive."
Hedwig: "Another reason we chose this format is because it’s low-threshold and practical. It looks good, but it’s not overly slick. There’s a great balance between engaging experience and accessibility—perfect for a public-sector project."
New Phase, New Visitor Center
The project has now entered the execution phase, and that calls for a new visitor center. Since this dike reinforcement will be one of the most sustainable in the world, sustainability will play a central role in the next version of the center.
Contact
Are you interested in using an Stakeholder Engagement Platform for your own project? Feel free to contact us. Our team is ready to assist you in setting up an Stakeholder Engagement Platform that meets your specific needs. Together, we can ensure that your project becomes a great success!