Discover how the Dutch have used dikes and polders in an attempt to reclaim and protect much of the Netherlands.

The evolvement of dikes of carefully stacked clay to pile dikes into high-tech sensor dikes did not happen overnight. Already in Roman times, small dikes and dams were created. A look into the long Dutch tradition of dike building gives us insight on a deeply rooted culture of trial and error in a country where the sea level rises and the ground level is dropping. History shows that either a big flood or a tiny worm, but also national welfare can lead to big consequences and shifts in the flood protection system. Key moments in the ever evolving dike network are described over different dike periods.

The sweeping dunes of the Frisian Islands, the seaside resorts of Zeeland, and the bustling port of Rotterdam – the largest harbour in Europe, may one day be returned to the sea, say scientists, if climate change cannot be halted. The highly fertile soil reclaimed from seas or lakes since the 14th century transformed the outline of the Netherlands, and though it makes up just 17% of our land mass, it is now among the most densely populated ground in...