Our first stop on the itinerary was at the dakkaker farm building for a tour around the city area and the different ways they incorporate water management and humanity into the environment. A school building had a basketball court and skating rink that turned into water retention areas during the rain and a church collected rainwater for outdoor water basins. A sculpture outside collects rainwater at a capacity that adjusts based on the weather forecast and the roof of an old station is intended to be turned into a green park. Not only are all these places working to prevent flooding in their respective areas, but they were also designed with a human focus, whether for aesthetics or multi-purpose use. The consistency and creativity of these various structures is an accomplishment of good urban planning for both people and the environment. While our climate may be different, I would love to see more environment and people-focused urban planning in Pittsburgh, like green-spaces.
The tour concluded at the Dakakker farm—a rooftop farm in the middle of Rotterdam run by volunteers. They grow a variety of plants, collect honey from bees, and even collect eggs from chickens. All products grown there are either cooked and served at their own restaurant, sold at their store or markets, or delivered directly to local business cutting out any middle man transportation (similar to the floating farm). They also use a similar rainwater collection system as the sculptures to ensure the crops are properly watered.
After being introduced to the plants, we took a bus up to the Watersnood museum in Ouwerkerk. The museum was created after the 1953 flood and was built out of 4 caissons: structures used to seal the breached dikes. Not only was it an informational site to discuss the background of water management in the Netherlands, but it also serves as a memorial to the lives that were lost. Prior to the museums creation, there was no common place to commemorate the victims of the flood due to the nation still recovering from the destruction wrought by WWII. The museum was finally a space to reflect on the disaster, but also acknowledge the aid provided even during a time of international conflict, and provide hope for what the future has in store with projects such as the Deltaworks.
