Storm Surge Barrier...

We were fortunate to have fantastic weather the next day for the tour of the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier, which is part of the Dutch Delta Works. We had previously visited the museum, but this was our first tour and thus first chance to see the world’s largest movable barrier up close.

Our tour guide was fantastic! A physicist during the week, she volunteers on weekends at the Keringhuis, a Public Water Management Information Center which shows how we manage to keep our feet dry in the water-rich Province of Zuid Holland. She threw an amazing amount of measurements and facts at us (none of which I can actually remember) while managing to be funny at the same time.

Built in 1997, it features two gates that are 690 feet (210 meters) long and 70 feet (22 meters) high. During a major storm, closing these gates will not just spare Rotterdam from flooding, but the entire region. Rather than trusting humans to make the decision of when to close the gates, the entire system is run by computers with advanced algorithms to measure potential economic losses by stopping shipping traffic versus the possibility of loss of life from flooding.

It takes an incredible amount of paint to cover these massive structures. The gates are closed every September as part of a system check. They were closed for the first time during a large storm in November 2007.

Carlin and Kent joined us. Afterwards, we went into Rotterdam to have dinner at Bazar.