Steel gates
Across the estuary.
Luka Peternel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · W. Bulach — CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Hofstee — CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Hofstee — CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Hofstee — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Oosterschelde storm surge barrier is the largest of the Dutch Delta Works, a series of dams and storm barriers that protect the Netherlands from North Sea floods. It runs between the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland in Zeeland, with the artificial island of Neeltje Jans at its middle, about 17 km north of Middelburg and 62 km southwest of Rotterdam in a straight line. The Delta Works were built in response to the North Sea flood of 1953. The barrier is about 9 km long; it was first designed as a closed dam, but after public protests huge gates were fitted in its last 4 km. They normally stay open and close only in stormy weather, so marine life behind the barrier survives and fishing goes on. Queen Beatrix opened it on 4 October 1986. Rows of massive concrete piers and steel gates stretch across the wide estuary, between the grey North Sea and the calm waters of the Oosterschelde. Wind turbines turn along the dams, and the low islands of Zeeland line the horizon. Neeltje Jans has a leisure park and an exhibition about the Delta Works, and one of the barrier's piers can be visited inside. The road runs across the barrier by car, with viewing car parks on both sides.
Across the estuary.
Delta Works exhibition.
By car.
Neeltje Jans island, between Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland, Zeeland, Netherlands
Yes, a road runs across it.
At the exhibition on Neeltje Jans.