Policy Advisor Wadden

Since april 2024 I work for the province of Groningen as Policy Advisor Wadden. A job description would touch all aspects and themes that correlates with the structure of the Wadden-governance, and more. Primarily this job includes advising the Provincial Minister (gedeputeerde) about several topics, both substantively as well as strategically. These topics vary from designate locations of new cables (PAWOZ), to the process of maintaining the UNESCO-status; and from coastal protection to the artificial raise of agricultural land (ED2050). In other words, it is a job that encompasses an enormous amount of topics, stakeholders and interests.

To properly advise about the ins- and outs of these topics’ processes it is key to fully participate, while maintaining an active network within the ‘Wadden-world’. Since there are too many processes at the same time it is also important to set priorities and to make sure to understand the main (leading) topics at the moment. Although my personal focus on these topics shift over time, the most important ones speak for themselves. An overview of those topics and processes, the ones I’m involved in over time, is given below.

• Bestuurlijk Overleg Wadden (BOW)
• Omgevingsberaad Wadden (OBW)
• Beheerautoriteit Wadden (BAW)
• Agenda voor het Waddengebied 2050
• Uitvoeringsprogramma 2050
• UNESCO Waddenzee Werelderfgoed
• Natura-2000
• Investeringskader Waddenzee (IKW)
• Beleidskader Natuur Waddenzee (BNW)
• Programma Eems-Dollard 2050
• Waddendiner 2025
• Programma Aanlanding Wind op Zee (PAWOZ)

In addition, it is good to know that all of these topics and processes given above are interprovincial, which means that I extensively work together with colleagues of other provinces (Friesland & Noord-Holland) and with colleagues from the Hague (Ministerie van LVVN, I&W). At the same time there are also internal processes that I work on, such as improving internal formal processes related to Wadden subjects. This means that I am one of the initiators of the Wadden Multi-Team at the province of Groningen. A contribution to formalizing this Multi-Team hopefully improves future collaboration between internal Wadden colleagues and lining up future advises.

Overall, as a policy advisor Wadden I am involved in decisions that are made for several topics related to the Waddensea.

And besides all these governance-talks there is also some time for exploring, which is (of course) highly important for this job! To give an impression of this important task, you can take a look at the pictures below.