| Flood disasters in the NetherlandsIn the past, there have been various disasters in the Netherlands due to rising water. In this respect, the greatest disaster in the 20th century was the flood of 1953 when large portions of Zeeland, South Holland and a few other polders were flooded; many lives were lost. This disaster was the motive for developing the Delta Plan and the Wadden Plan. Only the Delta Plan has been largely executed. Earlier flood disasters had also eroded away much land in the Dollard and the former Zuiderzee. These disasters were part of the reason for the closure of the Zuiderzee, resulting in the IJsselmeer. More about tidal storms and flood disasters can be found in the chapter about the formation of the wadden region. |
- The flood disaster of 1953
- Strengthening the dike on Texel (1953), Ecomare
The flood disaster in the night of 31 January - 1 February 1953 was caused by an extremely heavy and long-lasting northwesterly storm. The water in the southern North Sea had dammed up to unprecedented heights. The coastal defence was unable to cope with this heavy storm. Dikes broke in hundreds of places and large areas of Zeeland and South Holland were flooded with seawater. Dikes also broke on Texel, killing six people.
The disaster flood of 1953 led to the execution of the Delta Plan. To sum it up, this plan meant closing off most of the sea channels in the south of the country with dams and raising the sea dikes elsewhere. For the wadden region, there was an ambitious plan for land reclamation: the Wadden Plan. - Closing the sea arm
- Storm flood barrier Oosterschelde., Ecomare
Lake Grevelingen and the Haringvliet were closed off with heavy dams. An actual closure of the Oosterschelde encountered many protests from nature conservationists, tourists and commercial fishermen. This forced the water managers to come up with another solution: one developed a storm-surge barrier, which can close off the sea arm in case a dangerous flood threatens.
When the second large storm-surge barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg was finished in 1997, the Delta Plan was completed. This barrier was put into use on May 10, 1997. - The Zuiderzee disasters
- Flooded polder 'de Volharding' (Texel 1926), Ecomare
During the large flood disasters of 1825 and 1916, large pieces of land around the Zuiderzee were inundated with brackish water. Much land was lost. In order to stop these undesirable consequences, the government decided around 1920 to close off the Zuiderzee and subsequently reclaim large sections. The most important advantage of the impoldering was the creation of new land, which eventually was suitable for agriculture and habitation.
- The flood disaster of 1953
The flood disaster in the night of 31 January - 1 February 1953 was caused by an extremely heavy and long-lasting northwesterly storm. The water in the southern North Sea had dammed up to unprecedented heights. The coastal defence was unable to cope with this heavy storm. Dikes broke in hundreds of places and large areas of Zeeland and South Holland were flooded with seawater. Dikes also broke on Texel, killing six people.
The disaster flood of 1953 led to the execution of the Delta Plan. To sum it up, this plan meant closing off most of the sea channels in the south of the country with dams and raising the sea dikes elsewhere. For the wadden region, there was an ambitious plan for land reclamation: the Wadden Plan. - Closing the sea arm
Lake Grevelingen and the Haringvliet were closed off with heavy dams. An actual closure of the Oosterschelde encountered many protests from nature conservationists, tourists and commercial fishermen. This forced the water managers to come up with another solution: one developed a storm-surge barrier, which can close off the sea arm in case a dangerous flood threatens.
When the second large storm-surge barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg was finished in 1997, the Delta Plan was completed. This barrier was put into use on May 10, 1997. - The Zuiderzee disasters
During the large flood disasters of 1825 and 1916, large pieces of land around the Zuiderzee were inundated with brackish water. Much land was lost. In order to stop these undesirable consequences, the government decided around 1920 to close off the Zuiderzee and subsequently reclaim large sections. The most important advantage of the impoldering was the creation of new land, which eventually was suitable for agriculture and habitation.
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