A non-straightforward archipelago: speculative strategies for enriching the ecological and cultural landscapes of the Dutch Southwest Delta

A possible consequence of the contemporary re-evaluation of Dutch flood and water management strategies could be a return to more naturalistic estuarine conditions within the Southwest Delta. This has the potential to re-animate natural systems and habitats as well as bolster cultural connections to, and across, this landscape. <br/><br/>But how...

People watch, let Nature build

Not any element describes the cultural identity better the Netherlands better than water. Who takes a look at the maps of Netherland spread through the centuries, realizes how structuring the water is for the Delta. The Dutch don’t panic when there is a large storm flood or when the riverbanks are flooded again. They deal with the water...

Towards an open delta: Research and design for sustainable urban landscapes in an open Dutch Southwest Delta

The invention of technology for land reclamation in the 10th century started a unique transformation in the delta. Sand plates were dike-ed and pumped and became polders. Examples of early harbor cities created on the dike-ring are Ooltgensplaat and Oude Tonge. These cities were founded at the main creek of a sand plate. The polders created a...