The Netherlands – a brief history
The Dutch are well known for their water management skills. Water is in their genes. The Dutch windmills (once used to pump out excess water) , dikes and levees form a powerful international image. From the early middle ages onwards, we have reclaimed and defended land from the sea. A skill that goes hand in hand with water management, spatial planning, water supply and water quality.
A history that revolves around adaptation to water.
600 BC–1200 AD
Living on artificial mounds (terpen) draining peat lands
From 1200 AD onwards: safety and adequate infrastructure
Dike construction
River system improvement
Construction of Ditches, polders outlets, canals, weirs, dams bridges etc.
1600 AD onwards: reclaiming land, ‘polders’
1600 – 1800 Using windmills
1800 – ca 1950 Using steam engines
1891 onwards: Safety coupled with land reclamation and freshwater needs
32.5 km long barrier dam/enclosure dike Afsluitdijk, turning a sea into a freshwater lake and the creation of four large polders with a total surface of 165.000 hectares
1953 – 1997: Safety, coupled with infrastructure and recreation
Delta Works: Series of dike and dams linking several islands, closing of a number of estuaries and considerably shortening the coastline. The Oosterschelde Storm Surge barrier allows for tidal influences. Work started after major flood in 1953, and was completed with the Maeslantkering, a storm surge barrier in the New Water Way to Rotterdam.
1980 onwards: New ways of living with water
Integrated coastal policy via building with nature
Making room for rivers
Integrated flood control, monitoring and sensoring
Living with water instead of fighting it: for example floating housing
2010 onwards: New Deltaplan, climate adaptation and preparing for the future
The new-style Delta Plan has been structured so that the Netherlands can put its current safety in order and prepare itself for the next 100 years.
The plan is based on the 5 Dutch D's: Delta Act, Delta Programme, Delta Fund, Delta Commissioner and Delta Decisions.
More information on the existing Delta Works
Delta Works Online - a website with fascinating illustrations
www.deltawerken.com
More information on the new Delta plan
Delta Commissioner:
the Hague, the Netherlands
+31 70 456 78 73
http://www.deltacommissaris.nl
