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Learn about water safety

Articles

In our articles, we delve deeply into topics related to climate, water, and water safety, bridging the gap between the present, the past, and the future.

For instance, what is the impact of climate change on people? What will the Delta Works of the future look like? And which parties have a voice in the decisions made to enhance the safety of the Delta?

Looking to the Future

4 oplossingsrichtingen van Deltares

5 Scenarios to keep the Netherlands dry

The rise in sea levels will have significant consequences for the Netherlands. This century, sea levels are expected to rise by 0.5 to 1.2 meters, with a worst-case scenario of up to 2.5 meters. Furthermore, the sea level will continue to rise, potentially reaching 5 meters by 2200. How can we keep the Netherlands dry if the water rises to such levels?

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How to give a voice to nature?

People need space to live, work, travel, recreate, and everything in between. Due to population growth, the energy transition, and climate change, we need even more space to generate energy and protect ourselves from extreme weather. But people are not the only ones in the Netherlands. Plants, animals, rivers, forests, and other nature also need space to survive. And ultimately, people are dependent on that nature. However, it is difficult to prioritize the interests of nature when only humans make the decisions. So how can we allow nature to have a voice in the conversation?

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A Look Back

Portret van Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater

The Netherlands Waterland: From Terp to Delta Plan

The history of the Netherlands is a history of living with water. The very first inhabitants already sought ways to deal with the destructive force of rivers and the sea, or to harness it to their advantage. Over the centuries, we have developed increasingly clever techniques and have grown better at working together to control the water.

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Nationale Herdenking Watersnoodramp - Herdenkin 2023 - Dick van der Veer Fotografie

How we remember and commemorate the Flood Disaster

The end of the Flood was merely the beginning of the memories. Immediately after the Flood, it was not spoken about. The fear, the pain, and the sorrow were still too great. Years later, the memories resurfaced. Today, the story is kept alive with numerous commemorative markers and monuments.

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A Look at the Delta Works

Hollandse IJsselkering

The Delta Works

The Delta Works are the Netherlands' largest construction projects designed to protect us from the water. With five storm surge barriers, two sluice complexes, and six dams, we have largely closed off Zeeland, South Holland, and North Brabant from the sea. It was a mega-project with a long history of floods, ignored warnings, and technological innovation.

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De Bathse Spuisluis

Bathse Spuisluis

The Bathse Spuisluis is the only structure in the Delta Works not built to protect against water.Together with the simultaneously constructed Bathse Spuikanaal, the sluice refreshes the water in Lake Zoom by draining excess freshwater into the Western Scheldt. The canal is not intended for navigation.

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Deltawerk de Brouwersdam

Brouwers Dam

The Brouwers Dam is the largest Delta Works project after the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier. The dam is located in the former sea arm, Brouwershavense Gat, between Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland. It protects against high water and strong waves from the sea. An access road also runs across the dam.

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Deltawerk de Grevelingendam

Grevelingen Dam

The Grevelingen Dam is located between Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland and, along with the Brouwersdam, encloses Lake Grevelingen. The Grevelingen Dam was, and still is, necessary to reduce the flow at the Haringvliet Dam, Brouwers Dam, and the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier.

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Deltawerk Haringvlietdam

Haringvliet Dam

The name 'Haringvliet Dam' doesn't quite do justice to this enormous Delta Work. The Haringvlietdam actually consists of a dam, a barrier, sluice gates, and a navigation lock. The complex is located in the Haringvliet River, between Voorne-Putten and Goeree-Overflakkee. It discharges up to 70% of the water from the Rhine and Meuse rivers into the North Sea. By opening and closing, the Haringvliet Dam regulates the water level for a large area. For this reason, this Delta Work is also known as the 'Valve of Europe'.

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Deltawerk de Hartelkering

Hartel Storm Surge Barrier

The Hartel Storm Surge Barrier is located in the Hartel Canel near Spijkenisse and consists of a large and a small sluice, which can be lowered into the water to close off the Hartel Canel. The Hartel Storm Surge Barrier, together with the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier and the Rozenburg dike widening, forms the barrier of the Europoort.

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Hollandsche IJsselkering in vogelvlucht

Hollandse IJssel Storm Surge Barrier

The Hollandse IJssel Storm Surge Barrier was the first major project of the Delta Plan; construction began within a year of the North Sea Flood disaster.

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Het deltawerk de Maeslantkering.

Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier

The Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier is the last major project of the Delta Plan. The Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier can close off the Nieuwe Waterweg at Hook of Holland. The barrier absorbs the first impact from the sea during high water, protecting the Hartel Storm Surge Barrier and the Hollandsche IJssel Storm Surge. No other water barrier in the world has larger movable components than this Delta Work.

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De Oesterdam

Oester Dam

The Oester Dam is the longest dam of the Delta Works, but was originally not part of the Delta Plan. The Oesterdam separates the salty Eastern Scheldt (the Tholense Gat) from the fresh Bergsche Diep and connects Tholen and Zuid-Beveland. The Oester Dam includes the Bergse Diepsluis and is located next to the two Kreekkraksluizen.

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Deltawerk Oosterscheldekering - foto gemaakt door Joop van Houdt

Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier

The Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier (Oosterscheldekering) is located in the Eastern Scheldt (Oosterschelde) and connects the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland. The storm surge barrier closes the Eastern Scheldt during impending high water, thereby protecting a vast area from the North Sea. This structure is the most well-known and complex of all the Delta Works. Never before had such a construction been made on such a massive scale. The Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier is even referred to as a modern Wonder of the World.

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Luchtfoto van de Philipsdam

Philips Dam

The Philips Dam was not part of the original Delta Plan. The dam is located between the Krammer and the Eastern Scheldt, connecting Sint-Philipsland via the Grevelingen Dam with Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland. The Philips Dam contains the Krammer sluices for both commercial shipping and recreational boating.

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De Veerse Gatdam

Lake Veere Dam

The Lake Veere Dam is located in the former Veerse Gat and connects Walcheren with Noord-Beveland. Together with the Delta work Zandkreekdam and the already existing Sloedam, the Lake Veere Dam closes off the Veerse Meer. This significantly shortened the coastline of the Zeeland islands.

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De Volkeraksdam en de Volkeraksluizen

Volkerak Dam

The Volkerak Dam is more than just a simple dam. It is the largest and busiest inland navigation lock complex in Europe. The complex forms a tripod between Goeree-Overflakkee, the Hoeksche Waard, and the mainland of North Brabant, separating three bodies of water: the Hollandsch Diep, the Haringvliet, and the Volkerak.

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De Zandkreekdam

Zandkreek Dam

The Zandkreek Dam is the first dam of the Delta Works and the first Delta Work in Zeeland to be completed, shortly after the construction of the Hollandsche IJsselkering. The dam is located in the tidal inlet of the Zandkreek and connects Noord-Beveland and Zuid-Beveland. Together with the Delta Work, the Lake Veere Dam, and the already existing Sloe Dam, the Zandkreek Dam closes off Lake Veere. This significantly shortened the coastline of the Zeeland islands.

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