Enjoy the eighth wonder of the world , land of large sea inlets and Delta works dams. Come and see the Maeslant storm surge barrier, one of the largest moving structures on earth. Visited by many engineers from all over the world after the Katrina disaster in New Orleans.
The Deltaworks tour which is the more interesting after the Katrina disaster can be divided into two separate tours; one visiting the real Delta area in the south western part of Holland, about 120 km south west of Amsterdam and the other one visiting the Maeslant storm surge barrier , 65 km south west of Amsterdam , the last part of the Dutch Delta works finished in 1997.
Driving over impressive dams of the Delta works in the south west we enter the province (state) of Zeeland hit by a severe flooding in 1953, which caused 1850 lives.
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Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier (Neeltje Jans) in the province of Zeeland © Meetkundige Dienst Rijkswaterstaat
Maeslant storm surge barrier,
test closing september 24, 2011
At the Delta Expo you can clearly see how the Dutch responded to this disastrous flood by constructing an impressive sea defence.
Brouwersdam
A masterpiece of Dutch hydraulic engineering, the storm surge barrier of the Oosterschelde (Eastern Scheldt) estuary, one of the biggest structures of the world ,can be seen from very close by. We will stop at several panoramic spots that provide views of other Delta waterworks like the Brouwersdam to give information about these famous works.
It will also be possible to visit the picturesque little town of Veere, a favorite haunt of painters, lying on the border of the former Veerse Gat estuary which was cut off from the sea by the construction of a Delta works dam in 1958.
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On our way to the Delta works area you can visit Kinderdijk, a drainage system consisting of 19 windmills (built around 1740), formerly used to keep the Alblasserwaard polder area dry.
Madurodam
Here you can see from close up the working mill and make pictures of the photogenic Dutch landscape.
The visit to the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier, a masterpiece of Dutch hydraulic engineering, will give a good impression of the way the Dutch waterworks counter the threat of the sea. One may view this from a high positioned lookout, or see it at the exposition.
During this tour it will be possible to visit the historic town of Delft known by the Delft Blue earthenware and the painter Johannes Vermeer, the historic town of Schiedam, the Dutch gin city, with the tallest windmills of the world and the Distillery Museum with its collection of 20.000 gin bottles and the Hague, residence of the Dutch government, site of the Houses of Parliament, Madurodam (miniature Holland) and the Peace Palace(residence of the International Court of Justice).
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As you wish, we can have lunch with a view on the impressive steel construction of the Maeslant water defense system, enjoy lunch in the historic atmosphere of the city of Delft.or near the historical Knights hall (1248) of the Parliament buildings of The Hague.or in the little old town in the Delta area where the first and only Dutch pope lived in the 16 the century.
According to the original plans, the Oosterschelde estuary would be closed, just like the other river mouths in this region and the water enclosed behind the dam would therefore become fresh. Due to resistance against the construction of a closed dam, which would mean the disappearance of the unique salt water environment and oyster farming, the Dutch government agreed to an alternative plan in 1976: instead of building a closed dam, an open barrier would be built, containing sixty-two openings, each forty meters wide, which would only be closed during high water levels and heavy storms.
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Your guide
Hans Noltes, tour operator, guide and chauffeur Click to read more...
Owing to my academic training at the University of Amsterdam and my experience as an educator, literature study, on-site research and excursions I have gained an advanced command of the geography of the Netherlands and in particular the Dutch’ continuous fight against the water.
Organising tours in the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries for foreign tourists, foreign students and business visitors I am used to deal with tourists from English-language countries and Russia. I also provide taxi transport for adults and groups of children. , for example airport transfers by minibus.
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Our rates
Full-day tour (9 hours):
Starting from € 720 for one or two persons.
Starting from € 790 for three or four persons.
Different rates apply if you want to go on a tour with five to eight persons.
