Oosterscheldekering

The Oosterscheldekering (pronounced [oːstərˌsxɛldəˈkeːrɪŋ] English: Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier), between the islands Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland, is the largest of the Delta Works, a series of dams and storm surge barriers, designed to protect the Netherlands from flooding from the North Sea.

The construction of the Delta Works was a response to the widespread damage and loss of life in the North Sea flood of 1953.

[8][9] On 4 October 1986, Queen Beatrix officially opened the dam for use by saying the well-known words: "De stormvloedkering is gesloten.

The road was opened by the former queen, Princess Juliana on 5 November 1987, exactly 457 years after the St Felix Day's flood of 1530, which had washed away a large chunk of Zeeland, upstream of the new barrier's position.

When the construction was finished, the island was rebuilt to be used as education centre for visitors and as a base for maintenance works.

The area was flooded and a small fleet of special construction ships lifted the pillars and placed them in their final positions.

The dam is manually operated but if human control fails, an electronic security system acts as a backup.

Once the test is passed, the shutters are quickly opened again to create a minimum amount of effect on tidal movements and the local marine ecosystem.

[12] The turbines were installed in the eighth sluice channel from the southern end of the barrier, and started generating electricity to the Dutch grid in 2016.