
IJburg — Living on Reclaimed Islands
Amsterdam Duration: 3–4 hours Date and time to be defined max. 25 participants per guide on foot, by bike, public transport, bus Contact us for a quote IJburg is
In a country which lies largely below sea level, water management is a crucial aspect of life. The Dutch have been experts in keeping their feet dry ever since they settled in the marshy lands surrounding the Rhine delta. To protect against flooding, the Netherlands has developed an advanced system of dikes, dams, and floodgates. Today many countries and cities around the world call in help from Holland whenever they face a water-related challenge.
Since the realization of the Delta Works, a large system of dams, dykes, locks and storm surge barriers in the Southwest of the country, the seafront is safe. The Delta Works were built in response to the devastating 1953 North Sea flood, which killed over 1,800 people and caused widespread damage. Today, a bigger challenge than horizontal water is vertical water: salty groundwater pushing through the polders, but mainly the increase in precipitation due to the climate change.
The Dutch approach this challenge in an equally innovative and pragmatic manner, with projects including land reclamation, water retention squares, underground rainwater storage and floating neighbourhoods. The mitigation measures also include the use of green infrastructure, such as natural floodplains and wetlands, which can absorb excess water and reduce the impact of flooding.
Our 10-minute video ‘Living on Water’ tells you more about water management in Holland, before taking you to four floating housing projects in Amsterdam!
You can visit the projects in the video on our tours of IJburg and Buiksloterham. Make sure to also check out our other tours on water management!
Amsterdam Duration: 3–4 hours Date and time to be defined max. 25 participants per guide on foot, by bike, public transport, bus Contact us for a quote IJburg is
Amsterdam Duration: 3–4 hours Date and time to be defined max. 25 participants per guide by bus Contact us for a quote “God created the world, but the Dutch
Rotterdam Duration: 3–4 hours Date and time to be defined max. 25 participants per guide on foot, by bike Contact us for a quote “Amsterdam is a city with
Rotterdam Duration: 3–4 hours Date and time to be defined max. 25 participants per guide public transport or bike Contact us for a quote Due to its location in
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