A luxury garden on peat soil begins with exceptional ideas and an understanding of what lies beneath. VDK·VDW has extensive experience designing and creating exclusive villa gardens on peat soil, with several completed projects in Bergambacht and Roelofarendsveen. We understand the technical challenges this soil presents and account for them from the very first sketch. The result is a garden designed around your lifestyle, supported by a carefully engineered foundation.
Sunken paving, a step that keeps getting higher or rainwater pooling on the lawn: these are familiar problems in gardens on peat soil. Peat is compressible and can settle further under additional weight. It can also decompose when exposed to oxygen, as the Geological Survey of the Netherlands explains in its article on peat oxidation. Simply adding more sand is therefore not always the answer: the Regional Water Authority of Schieland and the Krimpenerwaard describes how added fill can cause further settlement. We carefully assess loads, material choices and transitions between structures with foundations and the surrounding garden. We cannot eliminate subsidence entirely, but we can plan for it carefully throughout the design and construction process.
We put this approach into practice at our Polder Prestige project in Bergambacht. On a long, narrow plot, we created a villa garden with a swimming pool, several terraces, a covered outdoor living area and an outdoor kitchen, while retaining an existing barn. To support the pool and the terrace adjoining the house, steel tubular piles approximately 16 metres long were installed, reaching down into the load-bearing sand layer. The covered outdoor living area and outdoor kitchen were built on screw pile foundations. Different solutions within one cohesive design: exactly what building on this ground requires. The result is a luxury garden where thoughtful engineering makes relaxed outdoor living possible.
01 — Introduction & visit to our Woontuin
We begin with your wishes, your home and your lifestyle. During a visit to our Woontuin show garden, you can experience different materials, planting and possibilities as we lay the foundations for your new garden.
02 — Garden design
Our master designers translate your wishes into a thoughtful garden design, tailored to your home’s architecture, its surroundings and the way you use your garden.
03 — Engineering & technical drawings
Once the design is complete, we develop the technical details of every element. Detailed drawings and careful preparation ensure that the design can be brought to life, down to the smallest detail.
04 — Garden construction
Our landscapers bring the design to life. From groundwork and paving to planting and the finishing touches, we manage the entire construction process with a focus on quality and detail.
Our involvement continues after completion. You can entrust your garden’s maintenance to our landscapers, ensuring it continues to develop as envisioned.
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A successful villa garden needs someone who sees the complete picture. At VDK·VDW, we guide every stage: from garden design and technical planning to construction by our skilled team and ongoing maintenance. We coordinate with the specialists involved and explain which areas of the garden will remain susceptible to settlement. This gives you a clear understanding of our choices and what to expect over time. Are you considering a luxury garden on peat soil, complete with a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen or poolhouse? During a no-obligation consultation at our Woontuin show garden, we explore your ideas and show you how we bring your vision to life through thoughtful engineering and design.
Together, we explore the options for your exclusive garden and discuss your ideas, after which VDK·VDW begins working on the garden design.
Based in Ridderkerk, we design and create exclusive gardens. From modern urban villas to spacious detached homes and rural properties, every outdoor space is designed around the architecture of the home, its surroundings and the way its residents want to live.
VDKVDW groen. meesters.
Florijnstraat 55, 2988 CL
Ridderkerk
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Subsidence on peat soil cannot always be prevented entirely, but it can be reduced through careful technical planning. Measures may include foundations suited to the ground conditions, lightweight fill materials and effective water management. At VDK·VDW, we tailor the garden design and engineering to the characteristics of the soil to minimise the risk of future settlement.
Yes, a swimming pool can be installed on peat soil. However, it requires careful technical planning. A filled swimming pool carries considerable weight, while peat has a relatively low load-bearing capacity and is prone to settlement. Depending on the ground conditions, a specialist foundation may be needed, such as piles that transfer the load to a stronger soil layer. The appropriate structure must be determined through ground investigation and structural calculations.
Creating a garden on peat soil can involve additional costs. Its limited load-bearing capacity and susceptibility to settlement may require more extensive foundations or other technical measures than would be needed on sandy soil. At VDK·VDW, we account for this from the initial garden design, ensuring the necessary measures are included in the schedule and budget at an early stage.
