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close| Location | Netherlands, Zuid-Holland |
| Central coordinates | 4o 2.00' East 51o 55.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B3, C3, C6 |
| Area | 350 ha |
| Altitude | |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information A recently built small islet holds breeding terns Sterna, Recurvirostra avosetta and Charadrius alexandrinus. The mudflats are attractive to waders on passage.
Site description A shallow bay between the old coast (Voornes Duin, site 022) and the harbour extension of Rotterdam (Maasvlakte), bordered by the Voordelta (020) on the seaward side. It is part of the former mouth of the River Maas, which was closed off in 1966.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | breeding | 1991 | 174 breeding pairs | good | B3 | Least Concern |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | non-breeding | 1991 | 2,275 individuals | medium | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis | breeding | 1991 | 88 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voordelta | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 90,000 | protected area contains site | 350 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes | 90% |
| Sea | Open Sea | 10% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 10% |
| nature conservation and research | 100% |
| tourism/recreation | 10% |
Management considerations The main threats concern shellfish fisheries, the planned extension of the industrial area of Rotterdam (Maasvlakte), and leisure aircraft causing disturbance.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Westplaat. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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