Today we took a long bus ride to the Watersnoodmuseum in Ouwerkerk, one of the outer islands of The Netherlands. The name “Watersnood” translates to sever flooding, which is exactly what the museum was depicting. The museum is a commemoration to the sever floods that took place in the Netherlands in January and February of 1953. In total, 1836 people lost their lives in these severe floods, and 125 poulders with a surface area of 40,000 hectares were flooded. In total, 9% of Dutch land flooded, 187,000 animals drowned, and 47,300 buildings were damaged in these severe floods. 

The museum addressed how the water management and hydraulic engineering of the time was no where near advanced enough to handle the severity of the floods. Releasing that flooding as bad as this one could happen with orthogonal winds and high spring tide, the Netherlands were inspired to create the Delta Works. The Delta Works is a massive series of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, and storm surge barriers. These are all examples of sustainable engineering balancing human safety, environmental protection, and long-term viability.

The final building of four in the museum addressed the impending issue of climate change. With increasing temperatures comes rising sea levels and more intense storms. The Netherlands continues to promote living with the water instead of fighting against it. After all, history in the low countries keeps repeating itself. A devastating flood forces people to act. Hydraulic engineers develop new dykes, pumping stations, and polders. People feel safe for a while, until the next flood comes and a new response is needed. 

The Netherlands also promotes global cooperation to address these extreme issues and create sustainable development and legislation. The museum explained that water management is as controversial in the Netherlands as abortion is in the States. Efforts like the Peace Palace focus on bringing politicians together to tackle climate change and water management, instead of pitting them against one another. 

In summary, the museum was extremely informative about previous devastation, legislation, and tackling climate change and its effect on water management. After we ended the museum, we lightened the mood by getting some ice cream and taking a walk around the surrounding area. We even stumbled upon a clam beach, which I have a picture of below.

That was it for today! Goedenavond!