Dutch Dikes

The Netherlands has many thousands of dikes. Dikes are the conveyors of our landscape, and have great cultural-historical value. We live in dike houses on the Waalbanddijk, cycle along the meandering Omringdijk in West Friesland, or visit the monument on the Afsluitdijk. Nevertheless, quite a few of the dikes fail to meet current safety standards. In order to guarantee our safety, knowledge about dikes is therefore necessary. It is time for an overview as well as a look towards the future, in a standard work. Despite their importance to our history, economy, culture, and nature, our dikes have never been properly mapped out. This is remarkable, because without dikes, the Netherlands would never have existed; they are our most important invention. In this book, based on the first Dike Map of the Netherlands, the Dutch dikes will for the first time be described, interpreted, and portrayed in their entirety: from primary embankment to relict, from seawall to waterline dike, and from dreamer dike to watchman dike. The list of the top 100 dikes shows the most remarkable dikes of the Netherlands.

There are few countries in the world where water dominates the landscape and national identity as much as in the Netherlands. The vulnerable delta is always being taken back to the drawing board for further adaptation to the water threat. Climate change now instigates a next round of interventions. The classic battle against the water has been replaced by an approach that involves working with the water. This publication is the first to show the sheer size of the Dutch water project and its effects on in the coastal and river landscape. Beyond the Dikes: How the Dutch Work with Water portrays this impressive operation. The book explains 30 interventions along rivers and coastlines - projects that combine aquaculture, cultural history, nature and human use in magnificent water landscapes that are waiting to be explored.

Low-lying countries, such as the Netherlands, are strongly dependent on good and safe sea defences. In the past, the design of dikes and revetments was mostly based on vague experience, rather than on general valid calculation methods. The demand for reliable design methods for protective structures has, in the Netherlands, resulted in increased research in this field. These contributions have been prepared by Dutch experts participating in the study groups of the Technical Advisory Committee on Water Defences. The book opens with an outline of general strategy and methodology on sea defences, illustrated in the following chapters by technical information on specific items and Dutch experience, and it ends with more general aspects such as probabilistic approach, integral (multifunctional) design, management & safety assessment. Together, these chapters provide an almost complete technical overview of the items needed for the design and maintenance of dikes and revetments. The enclosed CRESS-program allows for an initial estimation of hydraulic loads and preliminary design.

This book presents a geographical survey of the Netherlands, reviewing recent and historic developments that made the nation. It is a relatively wealthy country and the Dutch belong to the happiest and healthiest on earth. But these qualities are not evenly spread over the country. The urban agglomeration of Randstad Holland in the west hosts most of the nation’s capital and young, well-educated people whereas older and less-educated people are concentrated in the peripheral areas in the north, east and south. Interactions between physical and human geographical aspects of the Netherlands are described quite extensively. Its position on one of Europe’s most prominent deltas, its abundance of energy resources and the course of history have all contributed to its present national position and international networks. But early and recent Dutch have also shaped this country. They reclaimed lakes and shallow seas, protected the lowlands against floods, re-allotted land parcels and designed and developed urban areas. Besides its focus on water-related topics, the book also covers social and cultural aspects. The book also discusses future challenges and offers scenarios for solutions. This is a book for those interested in a wide variety of recent aspects of the geography of the Netherlands described in a historical context. It appeals to students and researchers of many disciplines in geography, urban and landscape planning, water management, history and cultural studies.

In this work, practical recommendations are given for sound dike design. Particular emphasis is placed on design, management and maintenance. Coverage includes the assessment of soil properties and different types of loadings on a dike.

All over the world, people learn in school that the Netherlands is a country that lies below sea-level. Dikes, polders, windmills and wooden shoes are well-known icons of this unusual nation, while its sturdy dams and storm surge barriers also enjoy world fame. But how does it all work? How can a country exist under such circumstances and even be prosperous? One would expect the Dutch to panic about climate change but they don't seem to be; how come? This book will tell you all about it, both in words and photos, striking a balance between developments in the past, the present and the future, steering clear from both generalizations and too much technological detail. Whether you are an expat, tourist, or far-away individual who has taken an interest in the country, this book will offer fascinating insights into how a society can function at sea level.

Told through the harrowing experiences of the Van Rossem family of Kuyfoort, this is the story of the great flood that swept over Holland in January, 1953. The courage and heroism of the people in their fight against the encroaching sea, the search for and rescue of survivors and the reclamation of their homes and land are depicted. “How the wind blows tonight! As if it wants to tear the house up by the roots,” says Tante Anna. But the van Rossem family isn’t worried. Isn’t their house strong and solid? And the dikes that hold back the sea—aren’t they strong, too? That very night they waken to the shriek of sirens and the clang of church bells. They hear an even more frightening sound, too—the rush of water flooding the house. And then comes the cry that strikes terror to the heart of every Dutch boy and girl: “Get to your attic. The dike gave way!”