The 1953 Flood Disaster |
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On
Saterday Januari 31, 1953, there was an high tide combined with a North Western storm. The
water of the North Sea reached an extremely high level and came pushing up the rivers in
the Dutch provinces of Zeeland and South-Holland. During the night from Saterday to Sunday
The Netherlands were hit by a flood disaster. Several dikes breached and the water flowed
into the low-lying polders. Most of the Zeeland islands flooded. Thousands of buildings
were destroyed or damaged and thousands of people had to find accommodations elsewhere.
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Immediately after the disaster, the Dutch PTT prepared a stamp for the
Flood Relief Fund. Because it had to be prepared in a hurry, the stamp became a simple
overprint on an existing "Queen Juliana en face". The stamps were available for the public in the period from February 10 till March 31, 1953. They remain valid for postage till December 31, 1954. |
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First-Day-Covers (FDC) with the special stamp were
available at the Post Offices as well as from the members of the official Stamp Dealers
Association (NVPH) at a price of 50 cents. |
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| Right after the february 1 disaster, some other countries produced stamps
to help the Dutch people. Among them were the Dutch Territories New Guinee, Suriname and
The Dutch Antilles. Also Denmark and Iceland contributed with financial support from
stamps. In all cases, the stamps were overprints on existing stamps. |
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| This Airletter was sent February 13, 1953, from Amsterdam to Ann Arbor (USA) using 5 overprinted stamps. The Air Mail Rate is correctly applied: 50 cent. |
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| To prevent another such catastrophe, the Dutch government launched the Delta project, to protect the people of South-West Netherlands against the North-sea. The realization lasted from 1958 to 1987 and cost billions of guilders. Four main dams, two of them with lock-gates, and several secondary dams located in the rear, close to the estuaries were built. All of the dams reduced the length of the shore by more than 70 kilometers, creating soft water reserves on the landward side. Across the new bariers roads were constructed. New recreation areas were established and tourism became another important source of income for the area. |
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This drawing shows the areas that were flooded during the 1953 disaster. |
Here the Sea-Defenses Plan ("Deltaplan") is depicted (barriers and bridges). |
Note: White areas indicate the flooded islands and land, Black indicates salty water, connected to the sea, dark blue is stagnant salty water (no tide) and light blue indicates fresh water from the rivers. |
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The Delta Plan or Delta Project involved damming four estuaries in the
middle of the Zeeland/Holland delta while leaving open channels to Rotterdam in the north
and Antwerp, Belgium, in the south. |
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The following 5 stamps (emission of 1959) show artist
impressions |
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1986: Deltaworks Completed! |
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| On October 4, 1986, Queen Beatrix declared the Deltaworks complete. The most difficult project, the closure of the Oosterschelde, was finished. It took, however, a few months before the first automobiles could use the road on top of the surge-barrier. |
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| Notes 1. More philatelic information on the 1953 disaster can be seen at the Postzegelfanaat (in Dutch). 2. Above materials came from collections of A.Lensen and A.Oomens (PZV Zeeuwsch-Vlaanderen). 3. Photos were taken from the books "De Ramp" and "De Kroon op het Deltaplan". 4. An excellent description of the Delta Project is presented by Job vd Sande. |
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