Netherlands > The Flood Museum

Netherlands - The museum about the 1953 flood disaster is housed in concrete caissons

Breakfast is ready again in the restaurant. Today, only one table is set. There was another guest, the waitress explains, but they left early this morning. We take it easy. After breakfast, we check out. We walk with our luggage to the car. On the way, we stop briefly by the Dikke Toren (Thick Tower). Next to the tower lies the Varrenput basin. In the past, this was where the sheets were rinsed. Yesterday, we walked right past it but forgot to take a look. Although the basin has been in use since the Middle Ages, it’s not particularly special. We continue walking to the car. Just outside Zierikzee lies Ouderkerk. During the 1953 North Sea flood disaster, the dike broke here. The breach caused enormous damage and loss of life. The dike at Ouderkerk was the last dike to be closed. To seal the wide gap, concrete caissons were used. By sinking these huge structures into the gap in the dike, the seawater could be stopped. Today, the Watersnoodmuseum (Flood Museum) is housed inside the caissons. The exhibition gives a voice to witnesses of the disaster and highlights rescuers. The museum also shows how the Delta Works now protect Zeeland. An impressive museum. Around noon, we walk out of the Flood Museum and set course toward Delft.