Delta Works

I stand where the land meets the sea, in a country called the Netherlands. The wind is my constant friend, whistling past my strong steel body and ruffling the waves below. I can feel the powerful push of the North Sea every single day, but I am stronger. I have huge gates that can open and close, and long, sturdy walls that stretch for miles. My job is the most important job in the whole country. I am a guardian, a protector, built to hold back the mighty ocean when it gets too wild. People look up at me and feel safe, knowing I am always watching over them. I am the Delta Works, a team of giant sea protectors.

I wasn't always here. A long, long time ago, something sad happened that made the people of the Netherlands decide they needed me. On the chilly night of January 31st and the morning of February 1st, in the year 1953, a terrible storm blew in from the sea. The wind howled and the waves grew into angry giants. They crashed over the old walls that were supposed to keep the land dry. The sea rushed in, flooding towns and farms. It was a very sad time, and many people lost their homes. But the Dutch people are very brave. They decided that this would never happen again. They made a big promise to each other and to their children. Just a few weeks later, on February 21st, 1953, they formed a special group called the Delta Commission. Their job was to create a plan for a super-protector. That plan was me.

Building me was a giant project. It began around the year 1958, and it took many clever engineers and strong builders a very long time to finish. I am not just one thing; I am a whole team of structures working together. I have dams that are like super-strong walls, holding back the water all the time. I have sluices, which are like special doors that open and close to let ships sail through safely. And I have amazing storm surge barriers, which are giant gates that stay open most of the time but can swing shut if a big storm is coming. The last and most famous part of my team is a barrier called the Maeslantkering. It was finished in the year 1997 and has two enormous white arms that can close to protect the important city of Rotterdam.

Today, my job continues every minute of every day. I stand guard silently, always ready. When the weather is calm, I let the sea and the rivers flow peacefully. But when a storm is predicted, my giant gates get ready to close, keeping everyone safe behind me. Families can sleep soundly, farmers can grow their crops, and children can play without worrying about floods. I show people from all over the world how humans can work together with nature to solve big problems. I am a promise that was kept, a guardian of the land, and a friend to the sea.