Flooding in river mouths: human caused or natural events? Five centuries of flooding events in the SW Netherlands, 1500–2000

A M J De Kraker

doi:10.5194/hess-19-2673-2015

Abstract

Abstract. This paper looks into flood events of the past 500 years in the SW Netherlands, addressing the issue of what kind of flooding events have occurred and which ones have mainly natural causes and which ones are predominantly human induced. The flood events are classified into two major categories: (a) flood events that were caused during storm surges and (b) flood events which happened during warfare. From both categories a selection of flood events has been made. Each flood event is discussed in terms of time, location, extent of the flooded area and specific conditions. Among these conditions, specific weather circumstances and how long they lasted, the highest water levels reached and dike maintenance are discussed as far as flood events caused during storm surges are concerned. Flood events during warfare as both offensive and defensive strategies are relevant; the paper demonstrates that although the strategic flood events obviously were man-made, the natural feature, being the use of fresh water or sea water, of these events also played a major role. Flood events caused during storm surge may have an obvious natural cause, but the extent of the flooding and damage it caused was largely determined by man.

Highlights

In this paper five centuries of flooding events in the SW Netherlands are analysed
The 1953 flooding was the start of a broad scientific research programme of historic flooding events caused by storm surges and river flooding 7th century AD 1700 (Gottschalk, 1971, 1975 and 1977)
Looking at the selection of flood events in the SW Netherlands of the last five centuries, it is clearly demonstrated that no flooding event was alike, but generally two categories of flood events can be distinguished, the first one being the flooding events occurring during storm surges

Summary

Introduction

In this paper five centuries of flooding events in the SW Netherlands are analysed This former delta area is dominated by the mouths of the rivers Meuse, Eastern and Western Scheldt (van de Spek, 1997). It is comprised of the Dutch province of Zeeland, the western section of North Brabant and the region south of Rotterdam (Fig. 1). Since AD 1000 local communities – at that time still living on low dwelling mounds – began to build low dikes in the archipelago of the mouths of the rivers Meuse, Eastern and Western Scheldt. On every island settlements were founded and on the major islands towns rose This coastal area was attractive for settlement because of its natural resources.

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Discussion

Conclusion