Why isn't the Netherlands underwater?

Stefan Al
In January of 1953……………………………………………. The titanic waves
flooded the Dutch coastline, killing almost 2,000 people. 54 years later, a similar
storm threatened the region. But this time, the Netherlands were ready. As the
water swelled, ………………………………………………………………….Over
the next 30 minutes, a pair of 240-meter steel arms swung shut, protecting the
channel ahead. Using 680-tonne ball joints, the barrier moved in rhythm with the
shifting wind and waves. By morning, the storm had passed with minimal
flooding. The first field activation of the Maeslantkering had been ………………..

As one of the planet’s largest mobile structures, this storm surge barrier is

………………………………………………. But the Maeslantkering is just one
part of a ……………………………………………….known as the Delta Works
— the most sophisticated flood prevention project in the world.The Netherlands
has a long history with water management. The country lies along the delta of three
major European rivers, and ……………………………………is below sea
level. This geography makes the region extremely prone to flooding. So much so,
that some of the earliest Dutch governing bodies were informal “water boards” that
coordinated ………………………………………. But after the storms of 1953,
the Dutch government took more official measures. They established the Delta
Commission, and tasked them with protecting the entire southwestern
region. ……………………………………., their aim was to reduce the annual
odds of flooding below 1 in 10,000— about 100 times as safe as the average
coastal city. Accomplishing this lofty goal required various infrastructure
projects along the southwestern coast. The first line of defense was to .
………………………… These large inlets fed many of the country’s rivers into
the North Sea, and during storms they allowed flood water to surge inland. Using a
series of dams, the Delta Commission …………………………………into
expansive lakes that serve as nature preserves and community parks. However, this
solution wouldn’t work for the Nieuwe Waterweg. As the lifeblood of the local
shipping industry, this passage had to be kept open in safe conditions, and
…………………………………. In 1998, the completed Maeslantkering provided
the flexible protection necessary. 

Alongside additional barriers, like …………………………………………, these

…………………. made up the bulk of the Delta Works project, which was
primarily focused on holding back ocean storms. But in the following decades, the
Dutch pursued additional plans to complement the Delta Works and protect against
floods further inland. Under the "Room for the River" plan, farms and dikes were
relocated away from the shore. This left more space for water to collect
…………………………………………………………………………… This
strategic retreat not only decreased flood risk, but allowed for the redeveloped
settlements to be built more densely and sustainably. 
Perhaps no city embodies the Netherlands' multi-pronged approach to water
management as much as Rotterdam, a thriving city almost entirely below sea
level. When a storm threatens, …………………………………… are protected by
traditional dikes. Meanwhile, newer districts have been artificially elevated, often
sporting green roofs that store rainwater. Numerous structures around the city
transform into ………………………………………………...which normally serve
as theaters and sports arenas. Meanwhile in the harbor, floating pavilions rise with
the water level. These are the first of several
……………………………………………, some of which house water purification
systems and solar collectors. 

These strategies are just some of the technologies and policies that have put the
Netherlands ………………………………………………. The country continues
to find new ways to make cities more resilient to natural disasters. And as the
……………………………caused by climate change threaten ……………across
the world, the Netherlands offers an exceptional example of how to go with the
flow.