The disaster of '53The DeltaworksThe plan for the DeltaworksFinancesDamsHollandse IJssel StormvloedkeringZandkreekdamVeersegatdamGrevelingendamBrouwersdamVolkerakdamHaringvlietdamOosterscheldedamSt. PhilipsdamOesterdamMaeslantkeringTimelineTotal summary of the damsWhat's changedGuided TourSearch over the siteHelpExtra stuffWho built this site, and how.

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GeneralHistoryObjectionWhy a dam?The planThe construction

Investigations have shown that the salt/fresh water border is closer to the sea when the IJssel had tides. So damming the Hollandse IJssel would mean that the salt-border would be much higher upstream. This was a great problem because all the water for the great cities in Zuid-Holland are provide with water from the rivers. So if the salt-border is higher up-stream they had to get the water from an other place. This would mean that complete watercleaning installations had to move up-stream.

 

 A viaduct between houses
In that time they were very afraid of pollution, because the industry and the sewers of the city Gouda were drained off in the IJssel. As long as there were tidal changes this was no problem for the dilution of the dirty water was sufficient enough. When this water would be closed from the sea the whole sewer system of this city should be changed and special extreme expensive purifying plants should be build.
Construction at the Hollandse IJssel dam Another problem for closing the Hollandse IJssel were the shipyards. All the yard should need special locks to pass the dam.

Because of all the protests and the practical problems they decided not to build a dam but building a construction with slides which were closed when needed.