In January of 1953, a tidal surge 
shook the North Sea.

The titanic waves flooded 
the Dutch coastline,

killing almost 2,000 people.

54 years later, a similar storm 
threatened the region.

But this time, the Netherlands 
were ready.

As the water swelled,

state-of-the-art computer sensors 
activated emergency protocols.

Over the next 30 minutes,

a pair of 240-meter steel arms 
swung shut,

protecting the channel ahead.

Using 680-tonne ball joints,

the barrier moved in rhythm 
with the shifting wind and waves.

By morning, the storm had passed 
with minimal flooding.

The first field activation 
of the Maeslantkering

had been a resounding success.

As one of the planet’s largest mobile 
structures,

this storm surge barrier 
is a marvel of human engineering.

But the Maeslantkering is just one part
of a massive,

interlocking system of water controls 
known as the Delta Works—

the most sophisticated flood prevention 
project in the world.

The Netherlands has a long history 
with water management.

The country lies along the delta 
of three major European rivers,

and nearly a quarter of its territory 
is below sea level.

This geography makes the region 
extremely prone to flooding.

So much so, that some of the earliest 
Dutch governing bodies

were informal “water boards” that 
coordinated flood protection projects.

But after the storms of 1953, the Dutch
government took more official measures.

They established the Delta Commission,

and tasked them with protecting 
the entire southwestern region.

Focusing on densely populated cities,

their aim was to reduce the annual odds 
of flooding below 1 in 10,000—

about 100 times as safe
as the average coastal city.

Accomplishing this lofty goal required
various infrastructure projects

along the southwestern coast.

The first line of defense was to dam 
the region’s flood-prone estuaries.

These large inlets fed many of 
the country’s rivers into the North Sea,

and during storms they allowed 
flood water to surge inland.

Using a series of dams, the Delta 
Commission transformed these estuaries

into expansive lakes that serve 
as nature preserves and community parks.

However, this solution wouldn’t work 
for the Nieuwe Waterweg.

As the lifeblood of the local shipping 
industry,

this passage had to be kept open 
in safe conditions,

and barricaded during storm surges.

In 1998, the completed Maeslantkering

provided the flexible 
protection necessary.

Alongside additional barriers, 
like grassy dikes and concrete seawalls,

these fortifications made up the bulk 
of the Delta Works project,

which was primarily focused on 
holding back ocean storms.

But in the following decades, 
the Dutch pursued additional plans

to complement the Delta Works 
and protect against floods further inland.

Under the "Room for the River" plan,

farms and dikes were relocated 
away from the shore.

This left more space for water 
to collect in low-lying floodplains,

creating reservoirs and habitats 
for local wildlife.

This strategic retreat not only 
decreased flood risk,

but allowed for the redeveloped 
settlements

to be built more densely and sustainably.

Perhaps no city embodies the Netherlands' 
multi-pronged approach to water management

as much as Rotterdam, a thriving city 
almost entirely below sea level.

When a storm threatens,

densely populated older districts 
are protected by traditional dikes.

Meanwhile, newer districts 
have been artificially elevated,

often sporting green roofs 
that store rainwater.

Numerous structures around the city 
transform into water storage facilities,

including parking garages and plazas

which normally serve as theaters 
and sports arenas.

Meanwhile in the harbor, floating 
pavilions rise with the water level.

These are the first of several planned 
amphibious structures,

some of which house water purification
systems and solar collectors.

These strategies are just some 
of the technologies and policies

that have put the Netherlands 
at the cutting edge of water management.

The country continues to find new ways 
to make cities more resilient

to natural disasters.

And as the rising sea levels 
caused by climate change

threaten low-lying cities 
across the world,

the Netherlands offers an exceptional 
example of how to go with the flow.