Afsluitdijk
Netherlands
Constructed in 1932, the Afsluitdijk, which runs from Den Oever in North Holland province of the Netherlands to the village of Kornwerderzand in Friesland province, has protected large parts of the country for generations against flooding from the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer freshwater lake.
But after more than 85 years in service, the 32 km dam no longer met current requirements for flood protection and water discharge and required major reconstruction. To address the ever-present danger, Rijkswaterstaat determined that it was essential to reinforce the Afsluitdijk to ensure the Netherlands can withstand the global increase in extreme weather. After the dike has been reinforced, the dike and its structures can withstand a storm that occurs once every ten thousand years.<
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