Page 252 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

250  WESTERN NE THERLANDS

1 Oosterschelde
Stormvloedkering

Throughout the centuries, the history of the Netherlands
has been dominated by its people’s struggle against the
sea. After the disastrous floods of 1953, which hit Zeeland The Windsock
heavily, the battle to remove the danger of the sea once When the windsock is full, a
and for all was undertaken in earnest. Now the Dutch seem warning is sounded, and people
to have minimized the threat of flooding by building are advised to avoid driving over
dykes and dams and closing off tidal inlets, all of which the dams and bridges between
the islands. Vigilance saves lives.
has had a major impact on the landscape.

Storms
Storms are a part of everyday life
in Zeeland: storms on the beach
or over the flat polders, storms
which blow the cobwebs away
and storms which make you fear
for your life.

The Fateful Night of 1953
On the night of 31 January 1953,
an event considered impossible in
modern times occurred. A combination
of spring tides and storms breached
the dykes and washed them away
as loose sand. A total of 1,835 people
lost their lives.

Deltapark Neeltje Jans
This attraction has been built on an artificial island, Neeltje Jans, on
which the piers for the Oosterschelde Stormvloedkering (storm
surge barrier) were assembled, then taken by special barges to their
positions. Now that task is finished, the island is being used mainly for
recreational and informative
purposes. At the Deltapark
you can find out about the
Delta projects and about how
the barrier works. You can see
the barrier from the inside,
and then take a boat trip to Luctor et Emergo
view it from the outside. This Latin motto meaning
There is an aquarium here, “I struggle and emerge
as well as a seal show; you victorious” is on Zeeland’s
can also experience a coat of arms, which depicts
simulated hurricane in the the Netherlands lion half in
“hurricane machine”. Neeltje Jans, educating visitors about the sea the water. This was wholly
appropriate for 1953.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p398 and pp411–12

250-251_EW_Netherlands.indd 250 16/01/17 12:05 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm