Oosterscheldekering

Posted on October 31st, 2010 in Photography

These photos were taken in 2006, I don’t know why I never got around to posting them. I took them when we were on vacation on the dutch shoreline. The Oosterscheldekering, as it is called, is a storm surge barrier built as part of the Delta Works after the devastating floods in 1953.

In case of emergency it can completely close the Oosterschelde from the North Sea. Luckily, this is extremely rare. Usually, like on the day these pictures were taken, the water is free to flow through and it does so in enormous amounts.

As you can see, the construction of this barrier was an amazing feat of engineering. The scale is immense, only matched by the force of the water it must tame.

Fishermen are a common site on the foot of the barrier, further along the beach is mostly occupied by sunbathers. Swimming is not allowed near the barrier, because of the dangerous currents.

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