How Netherlands Manages Floods
Flood control is important in Netherlands, as due to its low elevation. Approximately, two-third of its
area is vulnerable to flooding while the country is densely populated. Natural sand dunes and constructed Dikes, Dams and Floodgates provide defense against storm surges from the sea.
After a devastating North sea flood in 1953 which resulted in 1800 deaths, nation adopted a "never again" attitude. The floods stuck the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England and Scotland as well. Landscape dimensions of Netherlands has one-third lies below sea level, lowest point being 22 ft' (6.7 meters) below sea level and the highest point is about a 1000 Ft. above sea level. This is how Netherlands look alike.
Dutch expertise in Water Management is as old as the Netherlands itself, and as the global seas
rise, the Dutch are still on the front lines in dealing with flooding and sea-level rise. This exercise
is not only helping them in their efforts, but now they are going all around the world consulting and selling their engineering expertise. The coastal cities in U.S. and elsewhere are hoping Dutch ingenuity will work for them as well as in fighting back to the encroaching seas. Water pumping windmills were an early technology used by the Dutch to drain swampy areas, dryland plots surrounded by Dikes.
A modern engineering marvel - The Delta Works - built between 1950 and 1960s - consists of nine Dams and four Storm barriers have closed off estuaries and substantially reduced the Dutch coastline by about 700 Kms.
The right of the Dutch population to be protected from flooding was written in the constitution and the Netherlands adopted a very high national standard for flood safety. In addition to building more walls and Dikes, the Dutch also began applying a more long-term, holistic perspective about flooding, about the changing climate.
At the heart of the project is the idea that instead of keeping water at bay, space can be allocated to safely accommodate flooding. Dikes and other obstructions are removed and flood channels and flood plains are broadened and deepened.
From Delhi (India) to Wuhan (China) to Sao Paulo (Brazil) cities around the world have begun to turn to the Dutch for help with water management strategies. Cities in U.S. in the wake of punishing
natural disasters have also turned to the Dutch both for expertise and inspiration. The Dutch is society organized around its physical challenge and to take advantage of its physical location.
One lesson from Dutch experience is that not only can big public investment in flood - control infrastructure work, but they can be more economical than responding after the disaster.
Historically,U.S. has relied more on expensive disaster recovery than on program and infrastructure meant to prevent or mitigate flood related disasters.
The greatest lesson to be learned from Dutch is, perhaps, less about engineering and more about mindset and culture.
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area is vulnerable to flooding while the country is densely populated. Natural sand dunes and constructed Dikes, Dams and Floodgates provide defense against storm surges from the sea.
After a devastating North sea flood in 1953 which resulted in 1800 deaths, nation adopted a "never again" attitude. The floods stuck the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England and Scotland as well. Landscape dimensions of Netherlands has one-third lies below sea level, lowest point being 22 ft' (6.7 meters) below sea level and the highest point is about a 1000 Ft. above sea level. This is how Netherlands look alike.
Dutch expertise in Water Management is as old as the Netherlands itself, and as the global seas
rise, the Dutch are still on the front lines in dealing with flooding and sea-level rise. This exercise
is not only helping them in their efforts, but now they are going all around the world consulting and selling their engineering expertise. The coastal cities in U.S. and elsewhere are hoping Dutch ingenuity will work for them as well as in fighting back to the encroaching seas. Water pumping windmills were an early technology used by the Dutch to drain swampy areas, dryland plots surrounded by Dikes.
A modern engineering marvel - The Delta Works - built between 1950 and 1960s - consists of nine Dams and four Storm barriers have closed off estuaries and substantially reduced the Dutch coastline by about 700 Kms.
The right of the Dutch population to be protected from flooding was written in the constitution and the Netherlands adopted a very high national standard for flood safety. In addition to building more walls and Dikes, the Dutch also began applying a more long-term, holistic perspective about flooding, about the changing climate.
At the heart of the project is the idea that instead of keeping water at bay, space can be allocated to safely accommodate flooding. Dikes and other obstructions are removed and flood channels and flood plains are broadened and deepened.
From Delhi (India) to Wuhan (China) to Sao Paulo (Brazil) cities around the world have begun to turn to the Dutch for help with water management strategies. Cities in U.S. in the wake of punishing
natural disasters have also turned to the Dutch both for expertise and inspiration. The Dutch is society organized around its physical challenge and to take advantage of its physical location.
One lesson from Dutch experience is that not only can big public investment in flood - control infrastructure work, but they can be more economical than responding after the disaster.
Historically,U.S. has relied more on expensive disaster recovery than on program and infrastructure meant to prevent or mitigate flood related disasters.
The greatest lesson to be learned from Dutch is, perhaps, less about engineering and more about mindset and culture.
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