VOICE-OVER: On the night of 31 January to 1 February 1953,
the biggest Dutch natural disaster of the twentieth century unfolds.
Via the North Sea, a thousand-kilometre long windstorm
makes landfall along the Dutch coast.
Through a combination of the storm and spring tide,
an extreme storm surge rapidly approaches.
The Netherlands is still unaware of the impending disaster.
Once the northwesterly storm reaches its peak, the dikes no longer offer protection.
Water deluges the country at more than 150 locations
throughout Zeeland, Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Holland.
The suffering is unprecedented.
And then, to make matters worse,
a fresh tidal surge strikes in the afternoon of 1 February.
The consequences are almost impossible to comprehend.
The flood costs 1,836 people their lives.
Tens of thousands of animals drown,
and there is major damage to buildings, agricultural land and infrastructure.
After the flood of 1953, Rijkswaterstaat constructs the Delta Works
to prevent recurrence.
The disaster reminds us of how important it is
to protect ourselves against high water levels.
In a country that is largely vulnerable to flooding,
work on flood risk management never stops.
The water authorities and Rijkswaterstaat strengthen dikes, reinforce flood defences,
manage high water levels and issue timely flood warnings.
Everything to prevent another flood disaster, now and in the future.
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