TV series: ‘The Netherlands in 7 Floods’
Starting on Friday 13 December, the Dutch public service broadcaster NTR will be showing a 7-part documentary entitled 'Nederland in 7 overstromingen' (The Netherlands in 7 Floods). The final episode is about the future of our water safety, with an explanation given by Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken.
The Netherlands is world famous for its constant battle against water. Its dikes, the Delta Works and dredging activities are widely acclaimed. However, our discoveries for living with water were only made after severe floods that had a dramatic impact on our landscape and culture. Nederland in 7 overstromingen uses a TV series, a book and an exhibition in the Zuiderzee Museum to tell the story of the Netherlands and its battle with water, in the past, today and in the future. This battle is not yet won, because the chances of another severe flood – perhaps more severe than ever before – are only too real. The series links seven floods to seven universal themes including cooperation, blame, charity and a new mankind.
Delta Commissioner explains
Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken speaks in episode 7 of the series, which will be broadcast on 24 January 2014. In the episode, he explains that in the Netherlands we should always be prepared for the possibility of flooding. It is therefore also important that we know what action to take in the event of a flood.
TV series, book and exhibition
The documentary series will be shown on Friday nights from 13 December 2013 to 24 January 2014 at 9.10 p.m. on Nederland 2. Watch the trailer on YouTube. At the same time as the TV series is being shown, there will be a book published on the same theme and an exhibition of the same name will be presented at the Zuiderzee Museum.
Exhibition
The exhibition Nederland in 7 overstromingen – De Zuiderzee will be at the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen from 23 November 2013 until 22 March 2015. The exhibition focuses on the flood of 1916, which had severe consequences for the Zuiderzee region due to the number of casualties and material damage, and especially because this flood was the direct reason for enclosing the Zuiderzee. The construction of the Afsluitdijk (Closure Dike) in 1932 is a reminder of the danger of water and the events of 1916.