Why the dunes of The Hague matter for the water from your tap

As a child, Achim Häger was surrounded by nature. Together with his grandfather, a forest ranger, he spent countless hours in the woods. Today, this lecturer and researcher can be found studying the dunes of The Hague, but he is very much in his element there too. ‘I feel a deep connection with nature.’  

Together with his students from Leiden University College and colleague Paul Hudson, Achim Häger conducts research in the dunes of The Hague in collaboration with Duea, the water company. Dunes are vital to humans and the natural world. They protect us from the sea, store carbon and provide clean drinking water. They are also a place where we can relax and serve as habitats for animals and plants. 

Samples from different places

‘The conditions in the dunes are constantly changing’, Achim explains. ‘We’re studying how the ecosystem functions there. We’re looking at carbon storage in the soil and are studying factors like vegetation. For example, we are comparing areas of sand and those covered in dune grass.’  

In restricted areas, Achim and his students collect soil samples for lab analysis. ‘Dunea allows water from outside the area to seep into the ground, naturally purifying it. This process raises the groundwater level, which in turn affects the soil and the amount of organic material present.’  

Clean drinking water is essential

Achim and his students are helping Dunea map the diverse conditions and ecosystems in the dunes. It’s important research not only because clean drinking water is essential, but also because nature plays a crucial role in cities. ‘We live in a densely populated region, so it’s about finding the right balance. How can we protect our nature while also benefitting from what it has to offer?’  

Achim has known for years that nature has much to offer. As the grandson of a forest ranger, he was raised in the forests of Germany. He later worked in the jungles and coffee plantations of Costa Rica, and now in the dunes near The Hague. ‘I feel a deep connection with nature. I care about nature as well as conducting research there, I also go there in my free time. When I first moved here during the pandemic, the dunes were my lifeline – a place to explore and connect with my new surroundings.’  

Achim admires the innovative Dutch approach to nature. ‘There’s a long tradition in the Netherlands of living in harmony with water and nature – that goes hand in hand. I’m proud to contribute to that through our research, together with my students.’  

He acknowledges that ecosystem processes aren’t ‘the sexiest topic’ in the world. ‘It’s not always easy to explain what we do. But when you explain it’s about clean drinking water, people immediately understand its importance.’   

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Text: Margriet van der Zee
Photography: Wilke Geurds