Slufter, Storage depot in Maasvlakte, Netherlands
The Slufter is a containment facility in Maasvlakte designed to store contaminated dredged materials from the Rhine. The site spans 250 hectares and is bordered by a sand embankment surrounding a deep depression.
This facility was built in 1987 by the Port of Rotterdam and Rijkswaterstaat to manage the growing volume of contaminated dredging materials. The project emerged from the need to safely store Rhine sediments that could not remain in the river.
The Rotterdam municipality initiated discussions with Rhine-based companies to reduce pollutants, leading to decreased contaminated sludge deposits in the facility.
The facility operates around the clock and receives materials via trucks, dredging vessels, and grab cranes. Visitors should note this is an active industrial site with restricted public access to most areas.
The Wind Park Slufterdam has operated on the ring dike since 1992, turning this industrial site into a dual-use space. A specialized office building on-site was designed to withstand harsh maritime conditions.
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