Water in The Netherlands

Masters program Man and Humanity Erna Beumers Class

Anastasija Mass October 2009

WATER IN THE NETHERLANDS REASERCH

THE NETHERLANDS HAS BEEN STRUGGLING AGAINST FLOODS SINCE THE FIRST PEOPLE SETTLED THERE. OVER 60% OF THE COUNTRY LIES BENEATH MEAN SEA-LEVEL

AT FIRST THE INHABITANTS OF THE FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS BUILT ARTIFICIAL DWELLING HILLS CALLED TERPEN OR WIERDEN

THE EARLIEST DUTCH POLDERS DATE FROM THE MIDDLE AGES. THESE POLDERS WERE DRAINED BY SLUICES THAT OPENED AT LOW TIDE TO LET OUT WATER. AT THE END OF THE MIDDLE AGES THE DUCH STARTED USING WIND POWER TO DRAIN THE LAND

WINDMILLS PUMPED WATER BY USE OF A WATER WHEEL OR (STARTING FROM 1634) THE ARCHIMEDE SCREW. LAND BELOW THE WATER LEVEL WAS THUS DRAINED.

THE WINDMILLS OF KINDERDIJK

THE ARCHIMEDE SCREW

THE NORTH SEA FLOOD OF 1953 (DUTCH: WATERSNOODRAMP). THE DISASTER PROMPTED DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE PROTECTION AND STRENGTHENING OF THE DYKES, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE DELTA WORKS

THE OOSTERSCHELDEKERING (EASTERN SCHELDT STORM SURGE BARRIER), BETWEEN THE ISLANDS SCHOUWEN-DUIVELAND AND NOORD-BEVELAND, IS THE LARGEST OF THE 13 AMBITIOUS DELTA WORKS SERIES OF DAMS, DESIGNED TO PROTECT A LARGE PART OF THE NETHERLANDS FROM FLOODING

HOLLAND'S MAESLANTKERING STORM-SURGE BARRIER, ONE OF THE LARGEST MOVING STRUCTURES ON EARTH.COURTESY DUTCH ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITIES

COMPLETED IN ABOUT 1960, THE HAGESTEIN WEIR IS ONE OF THREE MOVABLE WEIRS, OR DAMS, ALONG THE RHINE RIVER IN THE NETHERLANDS.

TWO THIRD OF THE NETHERLANDS WOULD REGULARLY BE FLOODED IF THERE WERE NO DIKES.

WATER IN THE ZUIDERZEE MUSEUM

THANK YOU!