The influence of beach buildings on coastal dune development is still largely unknown, and it could pose a risk to the functionalities coastal dunes provide. The objectives of this research are covered by the main research question: What is the influence of specific types of beach buildings on aeolian coastal dune development and what are suitable dune management measures? This study uses high resolution LiDAR elevation measurements taken with an UAV of two case areas in the Netherlands to investigate the influence of beach buildings on aeolian coastal dune development. Measurements are made of two stretches of beach located in Julianadorp and Sint Maartenszee, where various beach building types are present. Different dune regions are classified based on the presence of building types. The elevation data is discretized in grids that are placed adjacent to the dune foot along these classified regions. Elevation changes and cross-profile evolution of the dunes within these regions make it possible to consistently analyse differences in dune development with quantitative parameters.

With the implementation of new legal aspects for dune safety assessment in 2017, the current method, Duros+, is no longer feasible to represent the desired processes. This 1D deterministic, volume-balance model cannot simulate processes like inundation and overwash, which are crucial to fulfil the new requirements for dune safety assessment. Therefore, the implementation of a 2DH XBeach model for dune safety assessment is evaluated. A transformation from 1D to 2DH becomes necessary and several hydrodynamic effects come into play, which are not relevant for a simulation in 1D. Additionally, the definition of a new limit state is a challenging task in order to define failure properly: The legal definition needs to be transformed into a technically feasible one. In this thesis five different limit states have been defined in order to evaluate the influence of a limit state on its consequences. These five limit states are then applied in a case study on the Delfland coast and the consequences of the different definitions are evaluated. Additionally, the safety development of the Delfland coast over the last two decades was analysed. It was found that all nourishment strategies applied at this coastal stretch contributed to an increasing safety. This includes the placement of the Sand Engine and its on-going alongshore spreading.