Hallo! Welcome back to day 11 of my blog. After today, I will have two more blogs and then I head home Friday! Today, we took a bus to Deltaworks, which was about 1.5 hours south of Rotterdam in the Zeeland delta region, the same area affected by the flood we saw in the Watersnoodmuseum. The drive there was beautiful, with stunning views of huge windmills and the glistening North Sea. Once we arrived, I was surprised to see Deltaworks was a small water park beside a large dam. The park itself and the museum inside were filled with kids on field trips. Although it seemed childish at first, I realized the park was doing a great job of teaching kids about water management and their history, and also provides resources for adults to learn.
We started the day with a free breakfast from Deltaworks, consisting of monkey bread and coffee and tea, which were delicious. Then, we watched an informational movie about how the locks and dams were built, why they were there, and how they work. This part was very informative and interesting, especially because I am passionate about water management.
The Delta plan lasted from the 1970s-80s and started due to the flood of 1953, to make the 6 islands of the delta region habitable and easier to travel through for the residents. The Northernmost part of the Delta was the lowest, around 20 ft below sea level, but the southern part was the least concerning, due to its location in Belgium and the way the wind travels during storms. To construct the dam, it was a quite laborious, expensive, and intensive process. It cost the government around 4 billion USD, 1.5 billion of which was taxpayer dollars. There were around a thousand workers building it, all Dutch men. There are around 13 Deltaworks dams around the entire region, and we were at the Oosterschelde dam. The company, Neeltje Jans, that sponsors the theme park at this location is separate from the Deltaworks government project. It is named after the goddess of the sea that sailors would worship for good voyages on the North Sea.
To build, first scale models were made of the design, and then they dug trenches and used sand retention techniques to make room for the dam. They used large vibrating compaction pontoons to loosen the sand, then laid sunken mats to stabilize the sand. Next, they poured large concrete piers, which served as the 65 storm surge barriers. These were constructed on the artificial land, which was then flooded, so large u-shaped boats could pick them up and move them to the area where the dam was constructed. Next, flood control gates were placed between the evenly-spaced piers, and rocks were laid around the barriers, from smaller to larger near the surface. Large pillars and a road were added on top of the gates, in order to provide a mode of transportation between islands. Most of the construction was done on-site in temporary factories. Locks were also added in some areas to allow boats to come through, allowing trade and travel.
After the informational movie, we went on a guided tour, looking at maps, models, and pictures of the dam structures. I was surprised to learn the floodgates have only been closed 32 times at this location, only every few years. They take around 1 hour to close and stay down for around 5 hours, depending on how long the tide takes to lower. Because they are only closed in the event of a storm emergency, it allows for safe ecological conditions (and therefore is sustainable). Fish and shellfish are still able to safely move and migrate, and birds therefore have consistent feeding patterns.
When we ventured outside on the tour, we were able to see the dam more closely, along with the many windmills on the property. There are around 1400 windmills used by Deltaworks, allowing it to be 12% renewable energy (with initiatives to reach 14%). They are extremely large, up to 900 ft, and are loud (and kind terrifying) when you stand closely beside them. It surprised me that they only used 12% renewable energy, despite having so many windmills. Despite their many attempts to be a sustainable company, there are some concerns I observed while on the tour. Of the three components to close the gate (mechanical, electrical, and oil container), the oil portion must be replaced after a certain amount of time. Recently, 7000L of oil was replaced, which was extremely expensive and unsustainable. Perhaps, more research can be done into alternative solutions to oil.
After the tour, we went inside for the “Deltaworks experience” which was somewhat of a fear mongering film about the flood of 1953, showing Deltaworks as the solution for the terror at the end. If I were a child, I would be terrified of the experience, due to the extremely realistic effects, sound, and visuals used. It gave me the same energy as the Haunted Mansion in Disney World. While it is important to spread awareness on the issue of flooding and water management, this film was an aggressive way to do it, especially for children.
After this, we had lunch, which consisted of bread, fruit, and a fried vegetable appetizer (which was delicious). After lunch, we had free time to view the park at our own leisure. We found our way to the aquarium, which had small fish, small sharks, stingrays, and some seals. The small sharks were in a touch tank and were extremely friendly, sticking up their heads to be petted by people walking by. We also went into a building that was a replica of a whale and learned all about the body of a whale. Finally, we skipped the water park due to the amount of children inside, and we sat on a bench and watched the waves bounce and windmills turn. This was extremely peaceful and unlike any experience I could have in America. After free time, we went on a large boat for around an hour, where we got a great view of the dam and the North Sea. It was so relaxing and scenic to sit on top of the boat, looking at the seals and the sea.
The Deltaworks company has a model of concept to consumer: the concept being water management education and the process to consumer being experiences such as movies, a water park, an aquarium, a boat ride, and tours. They have education materials for any age of consumer, allowing it to adapt to any audience. The actual dam itself has a concept of protecting the towns in the delta, the customer being the people of the Netherlands.
After the Deltaworks, we had an Italian dinner in Rotterdam, which was really good. I am back at the hostel to recharge before we head to InHolland Rotterdam tomorrow! Until then, Doei!