On the night of Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 1953, the Netherlands was hit by one of the most devastating natural disasters in its history: the Watersnoodramp. A combination of a heavy storm, spring tide and weak dikes caused large parts of Zeeland, South Holland and North Brabant to flood. The water broke through the dikes, flooded villages and farms, and ended the lives of 1,835 people in this tragic way. As a result of the disaster, 259 children lost their parents.
The above aerial photograph, taken shortly after the disaster, offers a unique perspective of the situation; an entire village flooded... no place to flee to for the people as for the animals. This shot is a visual testimony to the disaster, but also a piece of art which keeps alive the reality and memory of the terrible disaster. A rare glimpse into a crucial piece of history which led to significant advances in hydraulic engineering and ultimately the construction of the Delta Works.
