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Cycling around one of the most notable features of the Netherlands. Human-made systems of dams, land reclamation and water drainage works. The largest hydraulic engineering project undertaken by the Netherlands during the 20th century. Declared by the American Society of Civil Engineers as the works to be one of the SEVEN WONDERS OF THE MODERN WORLD.
The Zuidersea has always been a great source for fishing and access for trade. It also has been a dangerous place when the North Sea pushed the water through the bay; dikes would fail, resulting in floods killing hundreds or even thousands. To address this problem a plan was drawn up in the 17th century but not until the 19th century technology had been developed to actually do the job. One of Holland’s great men, Cornelis Lely, a Dutch Civil Engineer came up with a plan that proposed building a long dam that would close off the Zuidersea and turn it into a lake. In 1918 the project was officially started and in1932 the last connection to the sea was closed and the Zuidersea became a lake, now named the IJsselmeer.Even before the Afsluitdijk was complete, the Dutch started working on the first of the polders; the Wieringermeer, which was completed in 1929. The second polder –the noordoostpolder- was started in 1936 and finished in 1942. And finally the oosterlijk Flevoland, the third polder, added 208 square miles of territory to the Netherlands in 1957. The fourth polder –zuiderlijk Flevoland- was finished in 1967. So… the Zuidersea is now the IJsselmeer, the biggest lake in Western Europe, an artificial lake of 1100 square km in the central of the Netherlands. Also in 2010 an artificial island, called IJsseloog was installed on the lake. It is a repository for contaminated material dredged from the bottom of the lake. Once full, it will be capped and turned into a nature reserve. Besides visiting touristic highlights such as Volendam and Edam, you get to cycle over the impressive, 32-km long Afsluitdijk - something you should experience at least once in your life! The provincial harbour towns of Makkum, Stavoren and Kampen tell the story of a rich past.The Zuiderzee Route also takes you further inland to the national parks De Wieden and De Weerribben, where you get an idea of what large parts of Holland must have looked like before man put his stamp on it. The Hanze towns of Kampen and Harderwijk, the fortress towns of Elburg, and Naarden and the traditional fishing village of Spakenburg - known for its traditional costume - show you different sides of the region’s rich history. After cycling from the Hoek of Holland to Naarden we shall cross over 'het Gooimeer' to Almere and cycle first the two polders in a figure of 8 and return back to Naarden from where we start going North towards the Afsluitdijk, circling the IJsselmeer through Stavoren, Lemmer, Vollenhove, Kampen and so on, finishing back in Laren or thereabouts and visit my brother. We intend to go at the end of May.Can’t wait!
Thursday 1 June 2017
Hindeloopen church with its leaning tower...
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