The Delta Works is one of the most impressive structures in the world, thus earning it the title ?The Eighth Wonder of the World.? This system of hydraulic engineering works protects Holland against storm surges and improves the water balance. A real technical tour de force! 

During the night of January 31, 1953, a force 12 northwesterly windstorm pounded the coast of Zeeland. The weakened dikes, drenched with water, ultimately gave way, flooding the islands of Goeree-Overflakkee, Tholen and Schouwen-Duiveland. The disastrous result was 1835 fatalities, 100,000 evacuees, and 200,000 hectares of land under water. The tragic news from Zeeland unlocked a great deal of emotions, and it was determined that this would not be allowed to ever happen again. The Dutch government unanimously accepted the Delta Act in 1958, thus laying the foundation for the Delta Works. 

The Delta Plan

Because raising the dikes in the densely populated delta of the Rhine, Maas and Schelde rivers would be difficult and costly, plans were made to connect the South Holland and Zeeland islands by dams. The combination of these plans and dams was called the Delta Plan. 

The First Works

The first movable floor barrier was in the Hollandse IJssel River near Krimpen. That was in 1958. This eased the danger for the heart of the Randstad area of western Holland. The damming of the Veerse Gat and that of the Zandkreek was completed in 1961, creating the Veerse Meer. 

Haringvliet Locks

The Delta Works consist of more than dams and dikes alone; locks are also needed for transporting high water to the Rhine. Therefore drainage locks have been built in the Haringvliet. These locks began operating in 1971 and have 17 openings, each 56.5 meters wide. The Brouwers Dam in the Brouwershaven Gat was completed in 1972. 

Oosterschelde Flood Barrier

To prevent the creation of too many freshwater areas in Holland, the flood barrier locks are usually kept open and only close during times of extremely high storm tides. This structure, one of the largest in the world, cost 5.5 billion guilders to build and was opened on October 4, 1986. 

Recreation and Nature Reserves

The waters, in which the dangerous tidal floods have been reduced, are lovely areas to explore by boat. Some of the uncovered shores have become recreation parks. Many sandbars and shores, however, especially in the Oosterschelde, are part of an important nature reserve. Would you like to know more about the Delta Works? Visit Waterland Neeltje Jans in Burgh Haamstede. 

Location

Waterland Neeltje Jans 
Dijkgraaf A.M. Gelukweg 1 
4354 RA Vrouwenpolder