The Dutch and Their Love Hate Relationship with Water

The Dutch relationship with water is well-documented and world famous – and of course a special one. From dykes, reclaimed land, polders and windmills, to boats, city canals and mud-walking, Dutch lives revolve around water in one way or another. I guess you could call it a love hate relationship – but instead of fighting water, the Dutch have learnt to live with the water. To go with the flow.

Long Standing Relationship with Water

The tumultuous relationship with water began in the 1200s when the natives began reclaiming land from the sea; land that now forms most of the land area of the Netherlands.

The fact that the country is predominantly below sea level is for some astounding, and for others more than a little disconcerting.

However you perceive the precarious situation with the sea and this water-logged country, the fact is without the abundance of water the Netherlands wouldn’t be….well, the Netherlands.

Dutch Canals

Take the canals for instance. The first time my then Dutch boyfriend took me to Leiden, I fell in love. It’s attraction for me was 100% linked to the canals that wind around the city streets and the colourful boats that line the waterways.

Amsterdam’s remarkable character is also attributable to the waterways that run through the city. If you have ever experienced a Queen’s or King’s Day in the Dutch capital, watching the parade of colourful party boats stream along the canals in procession, you will know what I mean.

Attractions That Exist Because of the Water

It is not only cities, towns and villages which benefit from the water situation in the Netherlands. There are fascinating museums and attractions too which only exist because of the Dutch struggle with the sea.

A perfect example of this is the Deltapark Neeltje Jans, a water theme park in Zeeland built around the storm surge barrier, which protects the Netherlands against the forces of the sea.

A visit to the north of the country to Ecomare or one of the Waddeneilanden (such as Texel) also makes for a great trip out or weekend away.  You could try mud walking or island hopping.

Windmills

My favourite result of all this water in the Netherlands is the abundance of windmills that line the Dutch horizon. Windmills are everywhere and many were traditionally used to drain the water from the land.

There’s nothing quite like watching and listening to the turning sails of traditional windmills in their glory.

Ice Skating

The Dutch relationship with water also explains the national obsession with ice skating in the winter. with so many small bodies of water across the country how could the inhabitants not be tempted?

I am always delighted to see everyone taking to ponds, lakes and canals with their freshly sharpened skates as soon as the ice forms. It remains a fascinating sight for this Brit who had never so much as stood upon a frozen body of water before living in the Netherlands!

The Downside of the Dutch Water Situation

Of course living with all this water does have its downsides. Namely the risk of flooding. And the risk is a real one. Ask any Dutch person who has lost their home and livelihood to a flood plain.

In 1953 the Netherlands faced a catastrophic North Sea flood caused by a heavy storm. However, flooding is in no way confined to Dutch history – there are regularly flooding incidents across the country. The latest major event being Maastricht in 2021.

Climate change. Rising sea levels. Sinking ground. Heavy rainfall. Rivers. You get the picture. All very worrisome indeed for a country that has more than half its land, two thirds of the economy and much of its population living under sea level.

The ingenious Dutch are known world wide as the masters of water management. And schemes to prevent the Netherlands flooding reach far and wide; some are obvious but others less so.

The Afsluitdijk is an obvious barrier. There are five manmade storm surge barriers, four of which are part of the Delta Works project. There are also natural barriers in the form of dunes.  Whilst dykes protect Dutch towns from flooding the Dutch have also planned for these failing and the latest projects give the major rivers room to flood when necessary, instead of  trying to confine them.

Final Words

If you live in the Netherlands and have ever seen a map of the potential effect of flooding on the Netherlands in the future, you may well have been slightly worried.

You may have even been tempted to move eastwards to higher land………*

*Our decision to move east was totally not related to the flood threat in the future, but it certainly takes a weight of our minds. I’m joking. A little. It’ll be us saving your arses in the future giving you refuge from the floods.