Hey Everybody!

Today the group got the amazing opportunity to sleep in. We had a later start to the day, beginning with an hour-long bus ride to the Watersnoodmuseum in Ouwerkerk. The museum commemorates, and aims to educate on, the floods of 1953. 

I learned that the floods were caused by the low pressure in the area which turned into a hurricane, which therefore pushed water from the north sea to the south. The devastating floods resulted in 300 destroyed farms, 3000 destroyed homes, 1835 deaths, 40000 damaged homes, 3000 damaged farms, and 72500 evacuees. The flood occurred on the night of January 31st, 1953, into the morning of February 1st, 1953. During the night of the storm, just outside Ouwerkerk, the Zuidijk breached in three places. Everything was destroyed including cables, telegraph poles, telephone exchanges, and power stations, making communication nearly impossible. Many countries jumped into action and aided the Dutch towns that were affected. I found it fascinating to see how America helped. America sent 300000 sandbags, 20000 spades, drinking water purification tablets, 6.5 tons of blankets, and clothing. 

The museum itself is split into four caissons, or sections: caisson 1 – Facts, caisson 2 – Emotions, caisson 3 – Reconstruction, and caisson 4 – Future. The museum itself is located inside the dam that was used to close the last gaps in the Dijk. The cassions are connected via underground corridors. Because most items things were completely wiped out during the floods, a lot of the museum is a collection of moments and historical pieces that were donated by family members of those who died. I would sum up the museum as an informational history center, a collection of tangible belongings from people who died, a token of recognition for those who aided the Netherlands, and an illustration of the future and how to live with the water. 

After we completed the museum, we ate at the cafe on the museum premises. I ordered “kibbeling,” which is a fried fish dish. It was very good, and I considered ordering fish a safe bet as we were right on the water. The views around the museum were very pretty. Everything was lush and green, filled with wildflowers. Because we were right on the water, we saw many boats and beaches. We saw horses, sheep, deer, and long-horn cows. We boarded the bus and headed back to Rotterdam. The one-hour bus ride turned into a two-hour bus ride. Also, the weather today was beautiful; sunny and 80 degrees. 

Once back at the hostel, Jules, Cassie, and I headed off to do laundry at a local laundromat. It ended up being slightly farther away, but we got it done and got dinner on the way. We stopped at a grocery store and I got my new favorite drink, an Oatly Mocha Latte. I don’t understand how I will function without these in the United States. They are scrumptious and make the entire laundry process bearable. 

Now we are back in the hostel, and all tucked in for the night. We start bright and early tomorrow at InHolland in Delft. 

See you Tomorrow!