The municipality of The Hague has launched an innovative pilot project to keep the historic Hofvijver plastic-free. Using the remote-controlled Jellyfishbot, plastic and other litter are being removed from this natural lake in the city.
How it started
The initiative started after an increase in the number of complaints about litter in the Hofvijver, the famous lake in front of the Dutch parliament buildings. The pilot started the end of 2024 and runs for one year. When it's a success, the Jellyfishbot may also be used in other places in the city. Not only for cleaning up the canals but also to map the water bottom and quays. This project belongs to the Urban Management team of the Municipality to improve local living environment throughout the city. Paul Klomp is the Water Coordinator for the city and responsible for water management, This consists of keeping the water navigable, operating the bridges and managing the harbors to keep the water clean.
''Unfortunately, too much waste still ends up in the Hofvijver. This is bad for the water quality and all plants and animals in and around the water. That is why we do our best to keep this historic piece of water in the middle of the city clean. This innovative robot can make a great contribution to that.''
About the vessel and its creator
IADYS (Interactive Autonomous DYnamic Systems) created the Jellyfishbot. They are based in the South of France, in Roquefort-la Bédoule, with one mission: the robotic and the IA (Interactive Autonomous) for preserving the water. Originally this robot was designed for the collection of pollutants in ports. It operates to collect solid waste and oil, and to carry out bathymetric mapping to illustrate the land that lies underwater. It’s a study that uses acoustics, satellites, light and imaging, amongst other technologies of the ocean floor and the bottoms of rivers and lakes. The robot’s small size enables it to cover the most inaccessible places, between boats or under pontoons.
Trash removal: how it functions
The electric Jellyfishbot collects waste and oil autonomously or remotely. The innovative robot stores the collected waste in a micro-mesh net attached behind the small boat. It has a draught of 25 cm and is a wonderful vehicle for image and environmental protection awareness in busy tourist areas.
History behind the Hofvijver
Diving back into the history of The Hague, The Hofvijver, 'Court Pond', is one of the most fascinating places as the city came to life here. It was first dug out in the late 13C with originally a natural body of water among the sand dunes. It belonged to a Dutch count when it was still a small lake in the dunes with a castle, statesmen, damsels and historic events around it. The Court Pond was extended over the years and is now an artificial lake in The Hague. Nowadays this area is the center of government from The Netherlands.
"It is important that we keep our beautiful city clean, not only for nature, but also for our residents. This innovative technology offers us the opportunity to dispose of waste effectively and sustainably."
Clean-Up initiatives
Here are other Clean-Up initiatives for sustainable waters in The Hague:
New electric boat
New electric boat
Recently the municipality of The Hague implemented a new and cleaner electrically powered service boat. The municipality wants to use it to identify problems, for example around wrecks. This boat is located in the Poolsterhaven and therefore called 'Stella Polaris'.
Plastic fish soup – Kidsproof
Children can enjoy fishing for plastic soup at their birthday parties or during school holidays with friends. In this way they can contribute to making The Hague a plastic-free city. This activity on The Hague Boat is both fun and leaves a lasting impression on children, teaching them in a positive way that plastic waste has no place in nature. The team is currently on winter break and will return to the channels on Saturday, 12 April 2025.
Do you see litter lying or floating? Then make a report!
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