[1] It is a nature reserve alternative to the much bigger proposed Markerwaard polder that was begun in 1941, but paused following World War II and finally canceled in 2003.

[citation needed] Work on the first phase, which is mainly focused on the construction of the first island, started in April 2016,[5] with Boskalis Westminster being awarded the contract.

[6] The main aims of the project are to create breeding grounds, islands, and coast line as well as to improve the water ecology of the Markermeer.

Northern shoveler, gadwall, garganey, Mediterranean gull, spoonbill, long-tailed duck and numerous other species of birds have been seen on and around the islands.

[1] The ecologist Wouter van Dieren [nl] claimed he first had the idea in 1996 and talks about "plagiarism".