How the Dutch Realized these Insane Megaprojects

[Your Old Comrade]

The ocean has been friend and foe for as long as The Netherlands exist. The Dutch have long used their ingenuity to manage the water, but a perfect storm in 1916 prompted them to embark on the most ambitious project to date: to reclaim the Zuider Sea.

FULL TRANSCRIPT + SOURCES:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...xSAByZOuz/edit

MAIN SOURCES:
Canon van Flevoland (Canon Van Nederland):
https://www.canonvannederland.nl/nl/flevoland/flevoland

De inpolderingshistorie (Stichting Polder Pioniers):
https://www.stichtingpolderpioniers....ringshistorie/

Ontgonnen verleden (WUR):
https://edepot.wur.nl/144249

The North Sea Flood in 1953 was the worst environmental disaster in The Netherlands in the 20th century, but it had an unexpected side effect. This event led to an unprecedented rate of development in the region which positively benefitted the region, and led to one of the modern wonders of the world: the Delta Works.

FULL TRANSCRIPT + SOURCES:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...TNKQF_fMy/edit

MAIN SOURCES:
Watersnoodramp 1953 (KNMI):
https://www.knmi.nl/kennis-en-datace...snoodramp-1953

Lijst van publicaties door Deltacommissie (Kennisbank Waterbouw):
https://www.kennisbank-waterbouw.nl/...Deltacommissie

De Aanleg van de Deltawerken (Geschiedenis van Zuid Holland):
https://geschiedenisvanzuidholland.n...e-deltawerken/

[Your Old Comrade]

In the IMPETUS project’s ‘Atlantic’ demonstration site in the Netherlands, our main goal is to align with national, regional and local programmes to enhance #climatechange adaptation measures. The team is developing digital #decisionsupportsystem tools for municipal spatial planners, so they can create sustainable cities and communities, with a focus on the city of Rotterdam and surrounding areas in Rijnmond and the province of Zeeland.

One of the most significant challenges that climate change presents here is the increasing risk of #flooding from #sealevelrise. The sea has always been a threat for this low-lying country, which has been subject to major flooding events throughout its history. For example, the ‘Watersnoodramp’ of 1953 was a major disaster. And it is expected that, by 2050, regional sea level will rise 15-40 cm and there will be more severe #storms. More intense #rainfall and river flooding is another challenge, as summer floods in much more recent years have reminded us.

With growing recognition that the Netherlands’ main protection – sea dikes and storm surge barriers – may no longer be sufficient in the face of climate change, the race is on for Dutch cities to take #climateaction and plan ahead with new strategies.

Our #climateimpetus #project partner Nelen & Schuurmans is helping to accelerate climate adaptation measures in the Netherlands with its flooding decision support tool.