De Nieuwe Mark Breda - een natuurinclusieve rivier

The Nieuwe Mark transformation aligns with Breda’s ambition to be a 'city within a park,' now officially recognized as the first European National Park City. The project restores water to the city center, bringing nature back into its heart. By reconnecting the upstream and downstream sections of the river, new habitats emerge for plants and animals. Quay walls provide vertical habitats along the Mark to enrichen the biodiversity of the river.

Recessed brickwork fosters breeding grounds for various species. Specifically designed mortar types, and carefully sized joints, support mosses, ferns, insects, and birds alike. It aims to create a self-sustaining ecological system where nature can thrive without human intervention.

The project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, brings together a range of partners to enhance climate resilience and biodiversity. This collaboration led to the development of several key objectives like precise placement of vegetation and introducing misting elements for cooling. Testing of the quay wall designs included 1:1 mock-ups to optimize greening strategies, while tree planting tests within the quay structures ensure healthy growth in this urban environment. Hence over a kilometre of quay wall functions as a living canvas, where the strategic use of orientation, shading, water infiltration, and brick detailing ensures the local biodiversity to thrive.

As the Mark flows through the city, it creates a scenographic experience. The bridges blend keen engineering with a strong local identity. The Tolbrug, a key historic structure, features a slender deck, complimented with robust abutments that offer public space for gathering.

Planting schemes are inspired by native ecosystems—grasslands, tall-herb fringe, and scrub— and integrated with urban species to create a resilient, appealing landscape. Detailed work instructions and ongoing monitoring ensure that the planting evolves successfully, accommodating both planned and spontaneous growth.

This project sets a new benchmark for urban ecological development, combining river restoration with innovative, nature-inclusive quay wall technology that supports both biodiversity and urban sustainability.