Following years of proceedings against the construction of a bicycle path in the nature reserve ‘Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen’ conducted on behalf of the environmental foundation Natuurbelang Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, the province of North Holland has finally decided not to build the bicycle path. This decision follows a judgment rendered on 5 December 2016 by the district court of Haarlem. In that ruling, the court held that a bicycle path along the planned route would disrupt nature in the dune area, among which the sand lizard and specific types of vegetation such as grey dune and dry dune forest.

Marieke van Eik, lawyer for the foundation calls it ‘a victory for nature and the peace in the area’.

The verdict of the district court of Haarlem of 5 December 2016 is available here.