Wednesday 25 September 2013

“Neeltje Jans” Island and worries about holes in the “Oosterscheldekering”

We are driving from “Hoek van Holland” close to Rotterdam to Middelburg. This is on the west side of south Netherlands and the roads are most of the time surrounded by the sea. You drive on the dykes from island to island. Once this was open sea, now these are cities and farm lands protected by the Deltaworks.

One of the most important parts of the Deltaworks is the “Oosterscheldekering” located at “Neeltje Jans” working island. This island was used to build the dykes, roads and protection barrier of the sea. It is a natural sandbank.

The “Oosterscheldekering” is currently under discussion because there are holes of about 50 metres deep that could endanger the protection of this area of Holland against flooding. You have to know that a large part of this country is located below sea level. Without dykes or protection the sea is going to take back the land. Let’s hope that the “Rijkswaterstaat” takes care of the maintenance.

We rijden van “Hoek van Holland”dicht bij Rotterdam naar Middelburg. Dit is aan de zuidwestkant van Nederland en de wegen zijn meestal omsingeld door water en de zee. Je rijdt op dijken van eiland naar eiland. Eens was dit open zee, nu zijn het steden en landbouwgebieden beschermd door de Deltawerken.

Een van de belangrijkste delen van de Deltawerken is de Oosterscheldekering gelegen aan het Neeltje Jans werkeiland. Dit is een natuurlijke zandbank die werd gebruikt voor het bouwen van dijken, wegen en de beschermingsmuur tegen de zee. 

De Oosterscheldekering staat momenteel onder discussie vanwege 50 meter diepe gaten die dit gebied van Holland zouden kunnen bedreigen. Is er een risico voor overstromingen? Je dient te weten dat een groot gedeelte van Nederland onder de zeespiegel gelegen is. Zonder de bescherming van de dijken gaat de zee het land terug winnen. Laat ons hopen dat de “Rijkswaterstaat” ons gaat beschermen met uitstekend onderhoud. 
 
Hoek van Holland Middelburg
From Google Maps

Neeltje Jans Flowers

Oosterscheldekering

Neeltje Jans Flowers

Oosterscheldekering

Neeltje Jans Flowers

Neeltje Jans zandbank

Neeltje Jans

Previous Deltaworks article: Going deep in the harbour of Rotterdam to see the Maeslantkering

Previous Sea article: The calm sea and white sand on Carlise Bay, Barbados

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12 comments:

  1. ja gelukkig hebben wij de Delta-werken. Fijne avond Filip

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  2. Your system of dykes is unique and amazing. I hope they can continue to fully protect the internal areas and prevent disasters. I guess there will always be new challenges to the dyke systems as the forces of nature are beyond our control.

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  3. It must be a very large and ongoing task maintaining the dykes and protecting the reclaimed land.

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  4. Yes I do hope they do their maintenance on those dykes! I well remember what happened not that long ago in New orleans! Interes ting to see that map.... definitely alot of water everywhere there!

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  5. What an exciting road trip this must be. Beautiful country as well. Lovely flowers. Do you have bridges across each waterway, or do you use a ferry too?

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  6. Lovely, I love your sea and dykes. Hope they (dykes) are strong. Maybe there is no longer the little boy that will keep his finger on the hole ..
    Greetings

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  7. I have never seen anything like this. The flowers today are interesting, especially the fuzzy ones.

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  8. Oh my, so interesting about the dykes, and to know that you drive on them to get to land, no bridges.
    Let's hope all can be mended so everything is saved.

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  9. Last week I read and article about dykes and protectiv system in your country. As I see on your pictures they're quite strong really. Thanks for sharing.
    Groetjes

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  10. Zijn we tijdje geleden ook naartoe geweest, zeker de moiete!

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  11. Een hele mooie trip!

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