Netherlands And Its History With Water

The new week began early in the bus. Leaving Bruge behind we stopped first at a museum just over the border into the Netherlands. It was the Flood Museum. Located in caissons formerly used to provide protection from the North Sea it told the story of the storm surge and flood in 1953; it took over 1800 lives, including animals, and destroyed several Villages and towns. Through newsreels and print articles and recorded personal stories we learned about the experiences of many. We also learned what reconstruction has taken place and what plan continues to protect the border with the sea.

After lunch outdoors in the small town Zierikzee we visited the Delta Waterworks, which provides protection for the harbor of Rotterdam. Again, through a film and demonstration on a map of the country on the floor we learned about the give projects already functioning in the country. The one we visited is the largest and already 25 years old. Each of its arms, located on either side of the river,  is as long as the Eiffel tower is high. It will close when it reads the water level three meters above the normal level. Closing takes two hours, and ships on either side are given six hours notice. The status of the water level is recorded every ten minutes October through March. Maintenance is performed April through August yearly, and the system is tested in September.  Interesting is that this particular project was taken from the Russians who started it, ran out of money and then completed their project near St. Petersburg when Putin came to power; he is from St. Petersburg, and that project is half the size of the project we visited.

As you may be able to tell I was fascinated and most interested in the project. It has been used only twice in the 25 years.

On our bus ride we saw many green houses, and the ground is green, of course.  Our hotel is quirky in its decorations. We visited each other's rooms to see the wall paintings and far out room decor. We walked to supper, and Ruby pointed out places of interest. We had a lobster soup and pork with polenta  and an elegant piece of cake with ice cream.  We walked back to the hotel happy and laughing in the cool air. 

It is a decent hour to turn off the light.  So.....Guten Nacht

Susan



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