Welcome to the Watersnoodmuseum
The Watersnoodmuseum tells it all: the tragic events of 1953, the emotions,
the reconstruction and how we live with water, now and in the future.
These caissons have been recently renewed.
Four concrete mega-structures in the old sea dyke near Ouwerkerk
in Schouwen-Duiveland, the Phoenix caissons, accommodate the
unique collection of the recently renovated Watersnoodmuseum.
It was not until nine months after the flood that the last breach in
the dykes of the south-westerly part of the Netherlands was closed
off with these caissons. This historic site, with these silent witnesses
of the flood and the following reconstruction, and the surrounding
area were declared a National Monument fifty years later.
The museum remains a place to remember the events
of 1953, and is also the very spot to look ahead, with the
experience of the past and present-day technology in
mind. Walk through the museum, see the four caissons
and experience the whole tragic story of the Flood, the
following reconstruction and our awareness of the
environment and water management, now and in the
future.
Surrounding area
The area surrounding the museum is also a part of
the National Monument. The creeks, washed out by
the sea water, the marshes, the remaining part of the
old sea dyke, the new sea dyke, and the nature reserve
all these are the results of the Flood.
There is a small watch tower overlooking the Easter
Scheldt river in front of the caissons, close to the
monument of the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland
to commemorate the victims of the Flood.
Foot paths
Go for a walk through the area; one foot path (2 km)
takes you along the creeks and the Easter Scheldt River
to the entrance of the museum. There are other paths
(5-8 kilometres) through the nature reserve created
by Staatsbosbeheer (Forestry Commission) along the
creeks and through the village of Ouwerkerk with its
cemetery and the donated pre-fab houses. You can
get detailed information about these foot paths at the
museum.
The Watersnoodmuseum helps you understand what
happened - learn from the past, to prepare for the
future. The museum is the place to look ahead, to a
future in which living with water continues to be an
up-to-date topic, perhaps even more so than in the
past. Room for the future…
Facts and figures
The events in the catastrophic night of the Flood (1 February 1953)
are highlighted here, and the aid given in the first few days there after.
What happened, and how could it happen? Watch the Polygon film
reels and listen to fragments of the historic radio broadcasts. Or browse
through the thousands of newspaper cuttings and photographs of the
Flood and the following months.
Special attention is given in caisson 1 to the combined efforts of thousands of aid workers and volunteers
from the Netherlands and abroad, who immediately after the Flood
flocked to the region and took part in special relief activities and the
closing of more than a hundred breaches in the dykes.
Emotions and people
Caisson 2 is about the people - the victims, the emotions and
personal experiences. Do not miss the special project ‘1835 + 1’ in
which documentary-maker Koert Davidse and multi-media artist
Roel Wouters created a multi-media monument and succeeded in
giving the victims of the Flood a face and a voice. For further
information, see www.deramp.nl
The reconstruction
The reconstruction after the Flood started immediately. Work was
in progress everywhere: dykes, houses, agricultural land, the infrastructure,
so that the flooded region could quickly be made habitable.
Wooden pre-fab houses were donated by several countries; one of these
(a gift from Denmark) stood in this region and has now been rebuilt in
caisson 3.
Go into this house and watch and hear the story of the
Flood: historic film footage, interviews, television programmes and
documentaries. Next to the house are the machines and equipment
used to reconstruct the dykes. The last part of the exhibition in
caisson 3 links the fifties with the present: our changing society, the
modernization of daily life and the construction of the Delta project.
Living with water
The climate is changing and sea levels are rising. We are surrounded
by water everywhere. If we want to live safely and dry, in our low-lying
country by the sea, our approach to water management must change.
Technologically, much can be done, and a lot can also be achieved by
a clever use of nature and natural processes and resources, or by
different views on housing. And what can we do to improve our
own safety?
In caisson 4, three separate ‘theme-islands’ present
the innovations and solutions to help us face the challenge of water
management now and in the future. The museum shop - which is
open to the public free of charge - is at the end of caisson 4, where
you will find useful information about the area around the museum.