Maeslantkering Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam

The Maeslantkering storm surge barrier

The most recent part of the Delta Works near Zeeland is the storm surge barrier in De Nieuwe Waterweg and Het Scheur near the Hook of Holland. Here, too, the population needed to be protected from flooding. In 1987 the authorities decided to build the Maeslantkering.

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Moveable storm surge barrier

The original plans for the Delta Works did not include this particular barrier because the authorities wanted to keep the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp accessible. However, when it was found that the dykes that were originally planned were insufficient to protect the population, it was decided to build a moveable storm surge barrier.

Water-filled doors

The huge barrier doors are in fact floating pontoons that can be filled with water. The additional weight makes them sink and turns them into a massive barrier. After the situation returns to normal the water is pumped out of the pontoons, which are then stored in a dry location. Everything is computer-controlled and represents another example of Dutch hydraulic engineering that has allowed the Dutch to survive the water.

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