Our Projects - The Great Bubble Barrier®

Engineer holding bubble tubing during a Bubble Barrier implementation

Our projects

Bubble Barrier Projects

Discover the story behind our Bubble Barriers and get inspired by the pioneers behind them. Each Bubble Barrier project is unique, not only because of the characteristics of the location where they are implemented but by the people who initiated them, whether it’s local governments, communities or research institutes.

Explore our Bubble Barrier projects

Cities and regions took the matter into their hands to clean their rivers from plastic pollution. Browse our different Bubble Barrier projects and get inspired to take action.

Bubble Barrier Harlingen

In 2024, Bubble Barrier Harlingen, located in the Netherlands, was implemented. The system prevents riverine plastic pollution from flowing into the UNESCO protected Wadden Sea. First initiated by local citizen Henk Prins, this Bubble Barrier was implemented with the support of Gemeente Harlingen, Provincie Fryslân, Rijkswaterstaat, Port of Harlingen, Gemeente Leeuwarden and Gemeente Waadhoeke and sponsored by Waddenfonds.

Bubble Barrier Amsterdam

Bubble Barrier technology implemented in Amsterdam to capture plastic pollution from canals

The world's first long-term Bubble Barrier was implemented in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. This Bubble Barrier was commissioned by Gemeente Amsterdam and Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht at one of the outlets from the monumental canals into the IJ. This Bubble Barrier prevents canal plastics from flowing into the North Sea.

Bubble Barrier Katwijk

What started in 2018 as an initiative of concerned citizens, has now grown into a unique, widely supported mission to tackle plastic pollution in the Katwijk region, in The Netherlands. This movement has led to the implementation of Bubble Barrier Katwijk, stopping plastic pollution before reaching the North Sea.

Bubble Barrier Vila do Conde

The Bubble Barrier Vila do Conde was implemented in 2023 as a pilot for the EU project MAELSTROM. If the pilot is successful the project will be adopted by the city of Vila do Conde. Bubble Barrier Vila do Conde is the first Bubble Barrier in Portugal, and the first Bubble Barrier to stop plastic pollution from flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.

Bubble Barrier Wervershoof

In a joint project, Water Research Institute KWR, Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier, and PWN, teamed up with The Great Bubble Barrier to investigate how a Bubble Barrier could reduce the volume of microplastics in treated wastewater outflow and ultimately prevent them from entering the environment.

Want to fight plastic pollution with us?
Find out how you can take action for cleaner rivers

Take action

Want to fight
plastic pollution with us?
Find out how you can clean your river

Take action

Testimonials

Cities and regions took the matter into their own hands. Read their stories and get inspired to take action.

Water Management Board

Amstel, Gooi and Vecht

“We want to remove as much plastic as possible from the water to prevent pollution of the North Sea. Of course, we would prefer that no plastic is entering the environment at all - with the Bubble Barrier we are at least tackling pollution from the canals."

- Sander Mager, Daily Board Member, Amstel, Gooi and Vecht Water Management Board

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Municipality of Amsterdam

“Even though we take new measures to reduce plastic waste, a lot of it still ends up in our canals. I am therefore delighted to collaborate with Waternet to do something about the plastic waste in our canals with a Bubble Barrier. "

- Marieke van Doorninck, Councilor Sustainability, City of Amsterdam

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Engineering partners

All our Bubble Barrier projects were made possible through the support and work of our engineering partners. Four of these partners are highlighted below for their consistent commitment to The Great Bubble Barrier’s mission.