It was all hands on deck today in the province: the high water created exciting moments, especially in West Friesland and Zaanstreek-Waterland. The water levels reached record heights today in both the IJsselmeer and Markermeer. An overview message and compilation video of North Hollanders who managed to brave the high water today.
The province has been dealing with extremely high water for days, with all the consequences that entails. For example, the water level in the Markermeer rose last night again. The water has never been this high there and it has nowhere to go. Due to the high water level in the IJsselmeer, there are no options for discharging water from the Markermeer.
But it was also in Hoorn keel-billed tonight. There, Fisherman’s Island experienced its largest peak to date. Large sandbags were intended to prevent the water from reaching the facades of the designated homes. The entire street has since been hermetically sealed with sandbags. Not an unnecessary luxury, because the advancing water eventually came to a standstill against the bags. This prevented nuisance.
In Marken the dike guards the condition of the dike. This was done as a precaution, so that action could be taken quickly if something happened.
The rain in recent weeks has caused a nuisance, but there are also places where this is the case benefit have during the downpours. The dunes, for example, which thrive on abundant rainfall.
Spray
The best way to combat high water in the IJsselmeer and Markermeer is to spout. “We drain as soon as we can,” Bart Jacobs, spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat, previously told NH. “But that is not always possible. It is not the case that we can simply open a tap and guide the water, also called drainage, to the Wadden Sea.”
Jacobs speaks of a very serious situation: “In the summer we use a water level that fluctuates between -10 centimeters NAP and -30 centimeters NAP. In the winter we use a level of around -40 centimeters NAP, currently the IJsselmeer +44 centimeters NAP and on the Markermeer +32 centimeters NAP.”
Yet, according to Jacobs, North Hollanders do not have to worry yet. “The dikes and barriers in the entire IJsselmeer area are designed for higher water levels than the water levels we have now. Rijkswaterstaat works together with water boards, safety regions and the KNMI, among others, and continuously monitors the situation.”
Wet feet
Yet all the sandbags, measures and rabble were not enough for some North Hollanders. At the Grashaven in Hoorn, a lady just didn’t get a wet suit when she tried to get home from the harbor jetty. Wil Ouwehand from the Strandbad campsite in Edam also saw the water from the IJsselmeer slowly approaching ‘his campsite’.
In Monnikendam last night a group of 125 Ukrainian refugees evacuated after all roads to the hotel were flooded due to high water. This made access roads to the Lake Land Hotel difficult to reach and escape routes could not be guaranteed. And for that reason, evacuation was initiated.
Current situation
At the end of the day, NH reporter Mischa Korzec takes stock of the water balance in Monnickendam. At 4 p.m. the water in the Oude Haven had already dropped by 10 centimeters. However, other parts of the quay are still flooded.
Many Monnickendam residents watch from a distance and see how the water slowly becomes lower. This also applies to Mario Jannie. He looks at the water from his pizza shop with ‘delicious pizzas and good wine’. As the crow flies, his restaurant is about fifty meters from the high water. He is no longer very concerned now that the water seems to be receding, but he continues: “I’m the type ‘better safe than sorry‘ so I’m keeping a close eye on it all.”
Rijkswaterstaat also confirmed in a response to NH this evening that the water level in both the IJsselmeer and Makermeer is currently dropping.
Read in the liveblog back how the watery day went today in North Holland.