Today, we took a scenic bus ride through the Dutch countryside to visit the Watersnood Museum which commemorates the flood of 1953, which was a devastating event in Dutch history. The museum is located within four caissons which were actually used to prevent and fix flooding. I noticed that the museum placed a special emphasis on the impact of community and collaboration when recovering from the effects of the flood. It would not have been possible without the volunteerism and aid from Dutch citizens and outside countries. Specifically, the Rescue Squad and Red Cross evacuated victims and cared for and fed them. Though many lives were lost in the flood, so many losses were prevented because of the impact of the community.

The museum was also eager to tell the stories of those who were affected by the flood, whether it was a person who did not survive the flood, someone who lost a loved one, or even people who were not alive for the flood but still experienced a generational impact. Many installations highlighted recovered possessions and stories of Dutch citizens whose homes were destroyed in 1953. A specific part that stood out to me was a section that told the stories of people who were not even alive in 1953 but were still deeply impacted by the flood because of the trauma it caused their parents. Many young children did not survive due to the harsh conditions, and that left a lasting effect on their parents and future siblings. This really struck a chord with me because it made me realize that the flood was so much more than just a natural disaster; it physically and emotionally impacted real people and their families. I think it is very important and meaningful to educate ourselves on this event and empathize with all of the generations of people who were affected, especially because it did not happen too long ago.

Finally, I was pleasantly interested and surprised to see an entire exhibit dedicated to explaining the technology that fixed the flood and prevents future floods along with the impact of climate change on the potential for future floods. I learned that caissons, which are what currently house the contents of the museum, are what stopped the water from infiltrating the town. This has been effective at preventing floods as disastrous as the one in 1953 thus far, but, at the rate that the earth is warming, rising sea levels will only make floods occur more frequently around the world. This was an unexpected but extremely relevant connection back to the importance of sustainability in order to preserve our planet.

We concluded our stay at the museum by enjoying the beautiful weather by the sea and making flower crowns! Overall, this was a great day, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the flood of 1953 at the Watersnood Museum.