BRABANT FIGHTS AGAINST WATER

 

                       

                                                   The veerse gat dam

The closure of this estuary by the barrier was more complex as originally anticipated.
The main problem focuses on the given fact that during the change of tides approximately 70-million m3 water flows through the Veerse Gat.
It is extremely difficult to build a barrier, which is able to sustain this two daily flow of water.

Basis the old techniques it would certainly fail due to the strong currents.  So they had to develop new techniques. However the major part of the dam was build basis the old techniques.

At the Beverland site the major part of the barrage was constructed on the shallows of sand bank called "Van Onrust" The barrage was protected bye asphalt to minimise the effects of tides and weather caused sea state.

On the location an asphalt  plant was set up for this project to have direct delivery of the asphalt mixture available when required.  In this way logistics improved and eliminated the time consuming transport delays.

But the main problem still exists. The final gap of 320 meters which need to be closed.

The huge amounts of water which are going in and out with the tides makes life miserable for the construction of the last part of the barrier.
In 1959 all preparations are ready to close the last open part of the barrier.  The goal was to start  with dumping stones and shingles on top of zinkers to the treshols basis of the caissons. After finalizing this final 24 caissons were scuttled on the threshold.

Here you see the caissons and in the background you can see the barrier.

The caissons were built in a special construction dock close to the site of the barrage.

The differention compared to normal caissons was that these caissons were provided with openings. Your reaction will be that it is strange to provide openings in caissons. This is true but as the caissons had to stop the water but also had to allow the tides running in and out during the construction this facilitates the final construction of the barrier.  The caissons were provided with gate valves to allow the water run through.

The last caisson was scuttled on April 24.

The gate valves were closed on April 27 and as from that moment on the sea and tidal range was of no more influence to the backland.

In this way .... the Veersemeer was created

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