Jo Szczepanska
Trimester 1 M+H with Erna Beumers October 2009
Twenty-six percent of the Netherlands lies below sea level, i.e. below NAP. Without dunes or dikes, 66% of the Netherlands would be flooded on a regular basis. Source: Watermonitor 2001
The Dutch have been reclaiming land since as early as 1533. The first polder was made by draining the Achtermeer south of Alkmaar. For centuries, the creation of new agricultural land was the main reason for making polders. Water in NL 2004-2005
Map of Holland 1559-1609
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/netherlands_1559-1608.jpg
Satellite of Holland 2009 Google earth
After the Second World War, however, reclaimed land was mainly a way of finding new land for the growing population
An prime example is the IJsselmeer dam which allowed almost half of the old Zuiderzee to become dry land.
Building of Afsluitdijk
http://www.eendijkvaneendijk.nl/Dijkboekarbeiders/slides/vervaardiging%20van%20 zinkstukken%20voor%20afsluitdijk%20561930.html
Photos of Zuiderzee Museum
Photos of Zuiderzee Museum
The Netherlands has a total of 3,500 kilometres of primary flood defences. These consist of 1,430 km of river dikes, 1,017 km dikes around lakes, and 430 km dikes and 260 km dunes for coastal defense. http://www.waterland.net/
Storm Surge Barrier Oosterschelde http://z.about.com/d/architecture/
After the floods in the province of Zeeland in 1953 the government set up a project called the Delta Plan to protect Zeeland from future floods. Water in NL 2004-2005
The Delta Works cost a total of EUR 5.4 billion. Including the creation of the Maeslant barrier which also protects flood prone Holland from surges during storms. http://www.deltawerken.com
Maeslantkering Storm Surge Barrier http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Maeslantkering
utch studies, however, calculated greater levels of
R did. These studies took into account a more
frequent periods of drought with low water levels. Furthermore, the sea level is rising and, in the west of the Netherlands, the ground level is descending.
nd the fact that in the Netherlands there is a great
ticulture under glass and livestock farming.
The Third Coastal Policy Document Industry and Agricultural Total (2000)noted transport yields that0.8increasing 4.8 38.3 from 3 671.9 pressure 81.7 11,978 350.1 1,687.4 the1.0sea and 3,788.5 from 85.6 the land 20,333.0 19,244.0 610.6 130,866.4 eventually 27,059.2 779.7 164,903.1 would mean a weakening of the coastal defences.
damage (in millions of euro) from extreme
Rhine
ings
4.5
36.3
58.9
011.8
064.2
van het overstromingsgevaar en mogelijke schade bij extreem
001 Atlas – Atlas of the flood risk and potential damage from
ver Rhine), IKSR
To keep water manageable, a policy is being pursued that offers more room for water (see section 12). This will allow the water to follow a more natural course and further reduce the risk of flooding. Climate scenarios In 2001, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) worked out climate change scenarios for the Netherlands. Average rise
Values between:
Temperature
+1 Cº
and +6 Cº
Summer precipitation
+1%
and +4%
Winter precipitation
+6%
and +25%
Sea level
+20 cm and +110 cm*
D U T C H WAT E R M A N A G E M E N T F A
timates the value of the whole area protected by
*This figure takes into account the effect of soil subsidence in the Netherlands. Source: KNMI, Third IPCC Report, 2001
Water in NL 2004-2005
25
In many parts of the Netherlands, there is a slow, natural fall in ground level. This subsidence has various causes. So not only will the sea level rise but Holland is slowly sinking. Water in NL 2004-2005
Amsterdam
Floating Cities
Delft University of Technology http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina. jsp?id=d70d7984-b807-4e0a-b3a49b9a243e9b8c&lang=en
Lilypad City
Vincent Callebaut http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=2490
Lilypad City
Vincent Callebaut http://www.eikongraphia.com/?p=2490
Dura vermeer
Proposal for Drijvende Stad http://www.duravermeer.nl/projecten/
Watervilla
Waterstudio http://www.waterstudio.nl/
Watervilla
Waterstudio http://www.waterstudio.nl/
Palm Island Dubai Google earth