Most people know the Afsluitdijk. The one that closes off the central part of the Netherlands from the sea. But much less people know of the second dyke inbetween the Markenmeer and the IJsselmeer, connecting Lelystad with Enkhuizen. It’s also massive, totalling 26 kilometers, and on each end landwards sluices can be found, in order to let all of the boats pass that arrive in from the north.

The thing that makes the Netherlands unique is its constant battle with the seas. A significant part of the country lies below sealevel, so we need to make absolutely sure that these parts don’t flood from the sea, and the rising sea levels continue to pose greater challenges. This dyke is just a tiny part of the massive sea defences we have, and over time I’ll continue to make posts on this topic.