Day 11: Today, I woke up early, once again, and enjoyed the hotel’s breakfast. I was able to relax a bit before we met as a group to get on the metro. We took it into Central Rotterdam, where we met up with another tour guide. He took us around the city, showing us some very interesting sustainability practices. My favorite was the water collection implementations. Water would be collected from the schools and poured into this large basin. From here, it would be moved by drains and pipes into the “ZOHO” sign, where it was stored in large barrels. This rainwater is collected to help prevent flooding and droughts, depending on the season. We also got to visit a rooftop garden, where we learned the importance of maximizing space and area. This rooftop garden was very interesting to see, as it seemed like a practice that could be implemented at home! We stopped for a quick snack, where I got a delicious latte to warm me up from the cold rain outside. We also saw some cool artwork as we waited for the bus to take us to our next destination.
After the tour, we headed for the Watersnoodmuseum, located in Ouwerkerk. This museum, made out of four old caissons, further developed our knowledge of the flood of 1953. These massive concrete caissons were used to close the final dike breach after the flood. Inside the caissons lay artifacts, interactive scenarios, ties to the present day, and more. The exhibits provided insight into just how destructive and powerful Mother Nature can be, even when precautions are in place. It also helped prove the necessity of engineering, especially the importance of serving and protecting our communities.
My favorite part of the museum was seeing how this disaster plays into our current times. With sea levels rising and more extreme weather patterns, the world is at the mercy of the land we call home. Instead of fighting with nature, we should learn to adapt to it, just as they did in 1953. Water management is crucial, but specifically important for the lands below sea level. With the implementation of Deltaworks and stronger dikes, we can adapt to our surroundings rather than use a dam, a temporary solution. Furthermore, by using storm surge barriers, dikes, and locks, neighboring wildlife and biodiversity can be less impacted than halting the water flow. One of the interactive stations was a video presentation about a family that was caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The presentation highlighted a first-person point of view of trying to survive these dangerous conditions. With a little more than 50 years between these events, I was able to truly put into perspective the timeline of how far water management and engineering has come.
Following the museum, we headed back to our hotel, where I was able to unpack from the day. I then met up with some friends, and with our public transportation card in hand, we were ready to hit downtown Rotterdam. We went out to eat, explored the area, and got to see the Cubic houses! These houses are so beautifully designed, and they took my breath away. I would definitely live in one of these houses back home! After our night out on the town, we headed back to the hotel to begin our packing before getting a good night’s rest.
