Building a pond

Want to build a pond with no hassle of complicated equipment and chemicals?

With Simon's clear step-by-step guide, you will construct your dream pond in a natural and sustainable way. This provides you with a complete design plan for your pond, complete with personalized planting advice.
Once ready for pond construction?

pond advice book

Save hundreds of dollars with my pond tips.

For small ponds save at least a few hundred euros and thousands of euros for larger ponds.

Building a pond: your step-by-step guide

Without the right approach, ponds can be excavated incorrectly. I have often seen people who spontaneously dig a hole and want to put liner in it without a solid design. While digging and placing the liner usually works, problems often arise when setting up the pond. For example, a thoughtless pond without clear zones may not function properly. Take, for example, a pond without zones that is 1.50 m deep; such a pond can hardly accommodate plants. water lilies, although they live in the water, for example, may "drown" if placed too deep.

Simon van der Velde

Pond specialist and aquatic plant breeder

To avoid these and other pitfalls, I've put together a roadmap for you below.

Do you have a specific pond?

Then we have additional tips for you. For a plant pond, the step-by-step plan starts below.

Select your type of pond:

Mini pond

Mini pond

Small pond for patio or balcony, less than 100 liters

Small pond

Plant pond

Natural pond, self-regulating, up to 50,000 liters

Natural pond construction

Large water feature

Natural pond, lake or ditch, more than 50,000 gallons

Very large pond package

Plant filter

Swamp filter or helophyte filter for natural water purification

Building a swimming pond in your garden

Swimming pond

Natural swimming pool without chemicals, with plant filter

Constructing a koi pond in your garden

Fish pond

With small or large fish such as koi in a koi pond

Building a pond 5 step plan: how to build a pond? (including tips from Simon)

Simon van der Velde

With the right combination of plants and smart planning, you can create a maintenance-free natural pond without the need for expensive pumps, filters or water improvers.

Simon van der VeldePond specialist and aquatic plant breeder

Step 1: Determine pond type and proper location

Constructing a swimming pond
  • Planning: Before you start digging, it is essential to think carefully about the purpose of your pond. Do you want a swimming pond, a koi pond or just a decorative pond?
  • Location: The location of your pond affects its health. A sunny spot with 4-6 hours of sunlight per day is ideal.
  • Permit: No permit is usually required to excavate a pond. However, special structures, such as a mirror pond, may require a permit.

Simon's tip

Always start with a clear plan before you start digging.

Step 2: Create a floor plan

Pond zones drawing pond planting plan
  • Zones: A pond can contain up to five zones. For smaller ponds, two to three zones are recommended for plants. The pond should be at least 80-100 cm deep to accommodate the different zones.
  • Key Zones: The marsh zone (-10 to -20 cm) is crucial because many plants will be located here.

Simon's tip

Be sure not to make the zones too narrow, or you will not have enough room for the aquatic plants.

Step 3: Excavate the pond, calculate pond liner and lining

Pond excavation and lining
  • Preparation: Before you start digging, check the groundwater level. This can be done by drilling a hole at the deepest point of the pond.
  • Digging out: If the hole remains dry, you can begin excavating. Keep in mind that a lot of soil will come out of the hole.
  • pond liner: Once the hole is ready, it can be lined with pond liner. First remove sharp objects from the ground.

Simon's tip

Finish the edges of the pond neatly with stones or attach the liner to a wooden edge.

Step 4: Provide a good pond planting plan

Pond planting
  • Balance: It is important to have balance in your pond plants. This reduces the chance of algae growth and ensures clear water.
  • Natural balance: Simon's contention is that technical aids, such as filters, are not necessary if you have a good planting plan. The plants themselves can keep the pond clean and clear.

Simon's tip

By having a good planting plan, you will save an average of €200 to €300 annually on water tests and water improvers.

Step 5: Maintenance and further setup

aquatic plants pond without pond pump pond filter
  • Maintenance: Like marsh plants, aquatic plants contributes to clear water. Plants such as sweet flag, horsetail plant and pickerel weed are excellent choices.
  • Construction: The best time to build a pond is when it is not freezing. Keep in mind seasonal changes.
  • Cost: The average cost of constructing a pond with foil is around €200 per m2. With a good plan, you can avoid unnecessary costs.

Simon's tip

Put plants and substrate in the pond first, only then add water. And don't be tempted to buy unnecessary technical devices and water improvers.
pond advice book

Want more helpful tips?

Learn about common mistakes and get a handy planting plan, along with plenty of valuable tips in Simon's Pond Advice Book.

Part II. Setting up a pond in 6 steps

After your pond is dug and the liner is laid, it's time to start decorating the pond. Simon's step-by-step plan ensures that you can enjoy a clear, biologically balanced and low-maintenance pond year-round.

Simon van der Velde

Simon van der Velde: Expert on ponds and an advocate of biodiversity and sustainability

Simon van der Velde is an expert in ponds with more than 35 years of experience in designing dream ponds. He is the founder of "Van der Velde aquatic plants", a company focused on creating biodiverse and natural ponds without the use of pumping systems and filters. Simon's vision goes beyond just creating beautiful ponds; he also wants to contribute to the restoration of biodiversity in the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world. In addition to his work as a pond specialist, Simon is a passionate nature lover and is committed to preserving nature and the environment. He inspires people to take a sustainable approach to their gardens and the natural environment. Simon's passion for biodiversity and natural lifestyle makes him an advocate for sustainability and a key player in restoring the natural balance in our world.

Frequently asked questions about building a pond

If you want to build your own pond with foil, keep in mind an average cost of €200 perm2. Making a good plan can avoid unnecessary costs. Simons pond advice book gives you all the tips & tricks to save money and build a successful, clear pond in one go.

Building ponds can be done year-round, except when it's freezing. Weather conditions have changed so much compared to 25 years ago that the seasons have become less and less different. For example, our nursery we have filled year-round aquatic plants. Plants do not grow as fast in the fall, but they overwinter and sprout immediately in the spring. They are hardy. Thus, you can dig a pond and plant pond plants all year round. The only exception to this rule is when it freezes, because then there is ice on the water. Then building a pond will be more difficult.

We specialize in setting up ponds 100% naturally, with the goal of creating a maintenance-free pond. However, constructing a pond, or converting existing structures such as a pool to a swimming pond, depends on many factors that we cannot judge from a distance. We did write a handy pond advice book that includes tips on pond construction and setup: Check out the book.

On our website you can also find basic information for building your pond. Take a look at our page with information on pond construction.

Are you also already thinking a step ahead and curious about setting up a pond? Shop a complete pond package or choose your own plants and go through our pond check.

We recommend an all-natural approach to pond maintenance, with plants acting as natural filters. Oxygen plants and floating plants help keep water clear and healthy without the need for technical equipment such as pressure filters or pumps. For more information on creating a natural balance with plants, check out our Simon's Pond Tip Book.

Also, go through the steps in our pond check for a natural pond without much worry.

We recommend EPDM liner because of its durability, flexibility and strength. It is ideal for long-lasting ponds and provides a perfect base for plants at the bottom, promoting a healthy, natural environment.

Yes, you can use rocks in your pond, as long as they do not affect the composition of the water. However, be sure not to use too many stones so as not to disturb the growth of aquatic plants . Plants also help filter the water and contribute to better water quality.

Stones or rocks should serve as decoration, not as a replacement for pond substrate, because they do not have the same function. Without pond substrate aquatic plants can not root properly, bacteria can not nestle properly so they will soon perish and the pond will become unbalanced so you will suffer from algae and plants that perish.

So make sure your pond is well designed and that stones or rocks are used only for decoration and not as a replacement for pond substrate. Learn how to set up your pond optimally? Do the pond check.

When you rely on a plant-based filtration system, you don't have to worry about winter maintenance. Although some plants go dormant during the winter, the natural balance in the pond is maintained without the need for artificial filtration.

A good rule of thumb is one fish per 50-100 gallons of water. This helps maintain a balance between fish and plants. Carassius is an example of a fish that can withstand freezing temperatures. They go well with aquatic plants and will not easily destroy them, unlike other pond fish such as the Koi.

aquatic plants provide shelter and can even provide natural nutrients for the fish, reducing the need for excessive feeding. Feed your fish only as much as they can eat within a few minutes to avoid overfeeding and water pollution.

The best way to create a healthy ecosystem in your pond is to use aquatic plants. These provide a natural balance and keep your pond clear and healthy. With our complete pond kits, you can easily create a self-regulating, natural pond: View Complete Pond Kits.

Although we do not build ponds ourselves, we specialize in advising on pond construction using a 100% natural approach. We believe that a fully plant-based pond creates the most sustainable and healthy ecosystem for both plants and animals. For more information on this, please refer to Simons pond advice book.

As for the actual construction, there are several gardeners and pond specialists in the Zoetermeer area who can help dig and build both ponds and streams. We recommend choosing a party that has experience with natural ponds. These companies can often work with our planting plan or one of our complete pond packages for optimal results.

Would you rather choose the plants yourself? Then use our pond check to easily select and set up the ideal plants for your pond: Pond Check.

For a standard pond, including a stream, you can expect the following costs:

  • Earthwork: Between €500 and €1500, depending on the accessibility of your garden and the depth of the pond.
  • Liner and materials (EPDM, geotextile, stones, etc.): Count on €1000 to €2000, depending on the materials chosen.
  • Construction of a watercourse: This can range between €500 and €1500, depending on the complexity and finish.
  • Planting: With one of our natural planting packages you can achieve a complete planting plan from €300 to €1000.

In total, for a professional installation, you can consider a budget between €3000 and €6000, depending on your specific needs and the party chosen.