Today was day 8, and the first activity of the itinerary didn’t start until 1:00 pm, giving us some free time in the morning. My friends and I decided to use this free time to visit the Nieuwe Instituut, an architecture museum, which also had some other fun art exhibits. The first gallery we visited in the art museum was the works of Ma Yansong and his architecture studio known as MAD.  Many of these models and concepts have actually been built, an example being the Absolute Towers, also known as the Marylin Monroe towers, which were built near Toronto. They are high-rise buildings with a spiral pattern made from rotating an oval. Another very interesting concept by these architects, one which is purely conceptual, is the superstar. This is a large star-shaped building that can house an entire community. Each spike on the star is home to a different aspect of this community including farms, shops, homes, and medical centers. In concept, it is completely self-sustainable and transportable. It is a fun solution to the increasing problem of overpopulation and the housing crisis, as it takes up vertical space but very little land space. It is also extremely sustainable, as it doesn’t require additional energy to function. While I find it interesting, and while it’s supposed to be feasible, I don’t know how realistic this building actually is. Nonetheless, it is a creative and beautiful design that I found intriguing. Additionally, there were many other beautiful buildings on display, some of which incorporated nature, making for environmentally friendly and sustainable architecture.

After visiting this architecture museum, we hopped on a bus and took an hour-long ride to the watersnoodmuseum. This museum showcases the history of the 1953 North Sea flood, and the water management technologies and systems that arose from the disaster. This flood occurred because of a massive storm and caused about 500 dyke bursts. As a result, 1836 people were killed, and 72,500 people were forced to evacuate their homes. Immediately after the disaster, efforts were made to help those affected by the flood. About enough items of clothing were sent to the flooded areas to clothe 8 million people, an impressive feat. Additionally, food and goods were also transported to the Netherlands. In order to seal the dykes, and bring things back to normal, large caissons were used. These are large concrete watertight slabs that keep water out. They are towed all the way to the dykes and sunk right where the water breached them.

These caissons, however, were only a temporary solution to a larger ongoing problem. With climate change becoming an ever-pressing issue, sea levels are continuing to rise, causing more intense storms and a higher likely hood of flooding. This has led to several projects, some finished, and some still ongoing, to help with the water management system. One of these projects is the Delta Works, massive flood gates that can completely close of the Dutch delta. It is an extremely impressive feat of engineering, and one that we will be able to see up close later this week! These projects help to protect the Netherlands and often don’t negatively impact the land. This contributes to the sustainability of the Netherlands, as this water management will keep people safe, while not harming the environment.

After visiting the museum, me and some friends went to grab dinner before heading back to the hotel to rest and get ready for another exciting day tomorrow!