In the old part of Monnickendam near the harbor there is already a pile of sandbags to stop the water. There will be many more, because the expected easterly wind will push up the high water even further.
Yet the residents of ‘t Prooyen are not worried. “I have lived here for 59 years and I have experienced an easterly wind so many times. The water has certainly never been this high, but I still think it will flow loose,” says Pieter Kleijssen.
Pieter has received a letter from the municipality of Waterland stating that he lives outside the dike and must be careful. “What should I do with that? It’s unnecessary scaremongering.” He points across the street from his house to the Galgeriet. “And they want to build 750 new homes there. Isn’t that area also outside the dike?!”
Pieter’s neighbors are also not concerned about what is to come. The Hemmeland recreational area on the Gouwzee is almost completely flooded and the access road to the parking areas is closed. But Hemmeland has been under water more often in recent years.
Kees Wiersema, director of the marina in Monnickendam and civil engineer, believes that Rijkswaterstaat and the water boards have been unnecessarily surprised by the high water. “Of course, an extremely large amount of rain has now fallen, but the nuisance now is because the water level was already much too high. The high water in the Markermeer is normally drained to the IJsselmeer. Then via the locks to the Wadden Sea. This was possible in the autumn Not anymore.”
Full rain barrel
Wiersema makes a comparison to make it clear. “It’s like a rain barrel that is already full of water. Nothing can fit in there and it will overflow.” He also does not think it is right that it is now said that if you live outside the dike, you are responsible yourself. “Here in Monnickendam, half of the town has been outside the dike since 1600. And now you have to fix it yourself all at once.”
The municipality of Waterland has made a call on Facebook to move the cars parked at ‘t Prooyen. The municipality will place extra sandbags here. They also keep a close eye on the water level.