Surprise, surprise... I was at the beach again this weekend. It is so incredible how peaceful it looks in these pictures and still it was very windy and cold out there. It was almost too much to walk against the wind and I had to warm up my hands for a long time after taking photos. I had a good distance from the water this time and was more inspired walking beside the higher dunes, which are protecting the coastline of Holland against the water masses of Atlantic ocean.
This windy beach walk was just a small struggle compared to the fact that the Netherlands is also preparing this vulnerable coastal area against climate change and possible super storms, which could wipe away a huge part of this country when hitting the coastline of Holland. I would not like to think of this possibility, but even they have builded some extra protection: dams, storm gates to stop the water masses and made the dunes stronger to keep this country dry, the nature can be unpredictable. The climate change will make the storms stronger and there will be more of them in the future. After a last very big flood in South Holland 1953, the planning and building the protection against the flooding has been taken very seriously in this country. The dutch people have seen the potential in this flatland and worked hard so it is possible to live here as a neighbour of the big blue sea, the force of Nature that we have to respect.
Facts
To protect the country, which is mostly under the sea level, they have for example builded a huge storm gate in Rotterdam (picture 1), which is supposed to stop the bigger water masses in case of a flood. Rotterdam harbour is one of the biggest in the world and largest in Europe.
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| Storm gate in Rotterdam (1) |
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| Afsluitdijk, a dam separating the Atlantic ocean from the IJsselmeer |
There has been floods in Amsterdam too. Since one bigger one they builded a big,32 kilometres long dam in Norh of Holland(picture 2, build between 1927 and 1932), that separates the Atlantic ocean from the South Sea bay (Zuiderzee), which is now called IJsselmeer (a sweet water lake, which gets most of the water from the Ijssel river). Before they builded this dam, there was a big risk that the flood from the Atlantic ocean could easily reach Amsterdam and other parts of the country. And even there has been huge projects like Delta project in Zeeland, in the South Part of Holland, this protection seems to be a process that will never end. The weather type is changing and all the work and planning needs to be up dated constantly. It is good to be realistic, but I am keeping my hope high that there will be happening more an more during the next years to stop the climate change.
Fun
I share you some impressions from the Castricum beach.
I was enjoying my time at the beach even it was cold. Luckily some restaurants are open all year round and you can always step in for a hot drink. My favourite lately is a hot ginger tea made from fresh pieces of Ginger.
It was like a museum of still life in a noisy and windy theatre stage. Some of us brave ones getting fresh air and forgetting all the other noice from everyday life. The scenographer or the art director of this movie scene was still making plans for the summer I think. Hiding somewhere in these abandon looking buildings and ruins on the sand. I am looking forward to the masterplans for this coming summer season.
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| Take away coffee here..not a bad idea! |
Absolutely nothing wrong there, but sometimes you need to see and feel the raw reality and see the beauty in there. That works as an reminder that we need to do something to make things work and better. The ability to see the potential of the moment in a given context is good skill to have. That has driven people to design solutions and make further plans..and photographers too make good pictures. I think we have to keep our eyes open in many directions and respect the real life. More time with the friends and the family, more time outside, more time making things by hands, more time being aware who we are and letting our creativity come out in many fields of life:-).
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| The piles of a beach club...coming soon :-) |
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| Shadow art |
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| Lisää kuvateksti |
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| Human made spider net :-) |
The real tuesday is waiting for me. Writing this with my own hands with the help of the computer was a good moment to look back on my weekend and get ready to make the best out of today. I wish you a wonderful day with full of interesting moments!
