Dutch Water Masters At The Maeslantkering In Rotterdam
The Dutch are experts when it comes down to water management, the Maeslantkering in Rotterdam are two giant sinkable doors that protect the Rotterdam harbor from flooding.
Another trip with my friends through the Dutch landscapes. Today we went to the Maeslantkering.
The construction of the Maeslantkering was a part of the "Europoortkering"-project which, in turn, was the final stage of the Delta Works.
The main objective of this Europoortkering-project was improving the safety against flooding of the Rotterdam harbour, of which the Europoort is an important part, and the surrounding towns and agricultural areas. This had to be carried out by the reinforcement of existing dikes as far as 50 kilometres inland.
During the 1980s it became clear that this project would take at least 30 years and would cost a huge amount of money. It would also mean that historic town centres, sometimes built more than four centuries ago, had to be broken down and rebuilt behind renewed, larger dikes. Therefore the initial plan was put aside and the Ministry of Waterways and Public Works organised a competition in which construction companies could make plans for the construction of a reliable yet relatively cheap storm surge barrier.
Afterwards we went to the Euromast in Rotterdam. The Euromast is a tower in Rotterdam constructed between 1958 and 1960, designed by Hugh Maaskant. It was specially built for the 1960 Floriade.
It is a concrete building with an internal diameter of 9 meters (30 ft) and a wall thickness of 30 centimetres (1 ft). For stability it is built on a concrete block of 1,900,000 kilograms (4,190,000 lb) so that the centre of gravity is below ground. It has a "crow's nest" observation platform 96 meters (315 ft) above-ground and a restaurant.
Originally 101 meters (331 ft) in height it was the tallest building in Rotterdam.
It lost this position for a while, but regained it when the "Space Tower" was added to the top of the building in 1970, giving an additional 85 meters (279 ft). Euromast is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers.
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