Today, we got on a bus and headed to Deltapark Neeltje Jans at around 8:30 a.m. We arrived at 10 a.m., where we got to explore the park for a little while. This is where we found Olaf, an outdoor trampoline. It was so fun jumping around with my friends, and it honestly felt like we went back in time to when we were five years old. We then headed inside to try some traditional Dutch cinnamon pastries called “Zeeuwse bolus.” These were some of the best pastries I’ve had on this trip, and I might even try baking them back home.
After that, we went into a makeshift movie theater to watch a short film about the creation of the Delta Works. We learned that the Delta Works were created after the devastating North Sea Flood of 1953, which caused the deaths of around 1,800 people. The construction of the project took place from the 1950s to the 1990s. We then did a walking tour of the park and learned that the Delta Works have movable gates that normally remain open but close whenever there is danger of flooding. These barriers still allow marine life to pass through both bodies of water, which shows how the engineers found ways to keep the infrastructure both sustainable and safe for animal and plant life.
After the tour, we took a one hour boat ride around the Delta Works, where we saw scenic views of the windmills in the area. Afterwards, we were given two and a half hours of free time to roam around and explore the park’s attractions. We watched a sea lion show, went down the water slide, and visited the aquarium. Overall, I had a really fun time at Deltapark Neeltje Jans because it definitely brought out my inner child. At the same time, it was also really interesting learning about the Delta Works and seeing how much thought and engineering went into protecting the Netherlands from flooding. I’m also excited to visit the Watersnoood Museum and learn even more about the history behind these projects and the impact they had on the country.