DELTA WORKS Netherlands

Infrastructure

Delta Works, which stood in the provinces of South Holland and Zeeland, was built from 1953 to 1997 Delta works consist of dams, doors, locks, dikes, and storm surge barriers

The Creator

Johan van Veen is a Dutch hydraulic engineer who is considered the father of Delta Works (Uithuizermeeden, 21 December 1893–TThe Hague, 9 December 1959)

History, Function, and Purpose

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 The barrier moved in time with the changing wind and waves, thanks to 680 tonne ball joints. By morning, the storm had passed with minimal flooding. With the sophistication of the Delta Works, which functions as a water storm barrier, this project is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world

The Netherlands lies along the deltas of three major European rivers, and nearly a quarter of its territory is below sea level This makes the Netherlands very susceptible to flooding In 1953, after a hurricane, the Dutch government created the Delta Commission, which aims to protect 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 Achieving this lofty goal required various infrastructure projects, such as the Delta Works 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.

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 river plan, farms and dikes were relocated away from the shore 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 also allowed for the redeveloped settlements to be built more densely and sustainably