Why isn’t the Netherlands underwater? - Stefan Al

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.