Third COASTHazar cohort visits the Delta Works

The 3rd COASTHazar cohort (2024-2026) visited the Delta Works in the Southwest of the Netherlands. In the morning, we had a technical site visit to the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier (see picture). This movable storm surge barrier can close of the ‘Nieuwe Waterweg,’ the main entrance to the Port of Rotterdam. The barrier was the closing piece of the Delta Works and is operational since 1997. In the afternoon, we were received by Rijkswaterstaat in the operational centre for the Eastern Scheldt Barrier. With a length of 9 km, this is the longest storm surge barrier of the Delta Works and its construction was finalised in 1986. The Delta Works were constructed in response to an extreme flooding event in 1953 and consist of several storm surge barriers that now protect the Southwestern part of the Netherlands from flooding. It was a great learning opportunity to see these impressive constructions from nearby!