Below sea level. Natural risk management in the Netherlands

Amsterdam (and a little Holland) for one-two-three na_shpilke wrote in January 10th, 2012

Compared to water in Israel, Dutch water is of good quality - the first thing long-time residents share with newcomers is the fact that the water here can be drunk straight from the tap (in Israel, only bottled water is used for drinking). And there is also something charming and peaceful about the system of canals that, like arteries and veins, permeates the body of a Dutch city or village.

Amsterdam

Leiden (Leiden)

Hague

- Philosophy of tolerance. It is this cultural feature that the Dutch owe the beginning of their prosperity - while in the 15th century the great Catholic powers persecuted the “undesirable” (read “non-believers”), the Dutch, brought up in the Protestant tradition, opened their borders, guided by the fact that “patience and work will grind everything down.” That is, as long as a person works and earns his living honestly, he has rights and privileges in the country. The number of persecuted but enterprising people then filled the country, so that by the 17th century Holland reached its peak. Dutch cities, and Amsterdam in particular, even today pride themselves on the fact that they have never been cities of palaces and churches, but cities of the bourgeoisie.

Amsterdam

Today, tolerance for dissent allows the Netherlands to be one of the rare countries where soft drugs and prostitution are legalized (which brings in millions of euros daily from tourists to the treasury). Amsterdam is truly an international city, where the number of foreign workers is almost equal to the number of local ones, and foreign companies are eager to open their branches here. All this creates an extraordinary international, friendly and open atmosphere - people get to know and are interested in the person standing in front of them, and only then in his national and cultural baggage. Never before have I had so many foreign acquaintances and such a speed of “recruiting” new friends.

- Striving for equality. Another aspect of the positive influence of the Protestant religion on society. And, probably, a common European feeling of guilt before the colonies that were once captured. Religion raised the Dutch to respect people who work, so I didn’t see contempt for any type of work here. Unlike countries built on the emigrant system (America, Israel), where the dirtiest work Always goes to newcomers (and therefore those at the bottom of the social ladder), here I often see that the distribution of labor is rather a function of age and education: in the first hotel, most of the maids were young girls and boys - white Dutch. In the gym, the trainers and secretaries sitting at the reception (regardless of their origin) at the end of the working day themselves vacuum the halls, wash the floors in the studio and clean the locker rooms and toilets, and do not wait for the Russian and Ethiopian cleaning lady (often elderly) to come, who arrived in the country a couple of months ago and for that reason alone does not deserve any other position.

Three things you absolutely do not accept in your adopted country:
- Bureaucracy. The Dutch call themselves a nation of bureaucrats and are very proud of it. And although I also believe that the right road leads to the right result, sometimes this road turns out to be so long! A simple example: to become a client of a cellular communication company, I had to visit the branch 6(!) times. Twice due to a missing document (and no identical document that I had at that moment helped), and the other times due to the fact that each time there was some kind of failure or defect in the system and none of the employees was ready to issue contract on the spot, and only then approve it in the system - deviation from the procedure is unknown to them!

- Some limitations. Related to the first point. The deification of system and procedure does not allow the Dutch to think creatively - to look for unconventional solutions to new problems. That is why innovations, non-standard solutions, etc. are very difficult to accept here. If you have a problem with any service, the usual answer is: come back tomorrow and we will check what happened outside of protocol. It is unlikely that an ordinary employee will look for options on how to solve the problem here and now. I happened to encounter the fact that many people here think in closed systems and given parameters: an apartment in this area should cost the amount n, therefore nothing else is possible (and it doesn’t matter that there are people leaving and urgently renting out their housing at a lower price - broker will not bother himself with a search, which he considers obviously in vain).

- Reluctance to stand out. And this is the less pleasant side of Dutch religion and tradition. For a long time, the Dutch were called the “nation of six” - because of the ten-point grading system at school, because instead of telling teenagers that they should strive to get a 10, the Dutch were brought up that an average “six” was also good. Hence the reluctance to stand out: on the street (with clothes), at work (with achievements), in society (with original thoughts). Fortunately, the younger generation, more open to new cultures, is moving away from this, but among middle-aged people you can often find a similar “averageness”, which, if a person was hired to provide some kind of service, can be annoying, because you always think that you are not you will get the best possible result from it.

Three things from home that I miss terribly in my adopted country:
- Moms. As promised, it is always the first point at a long distance from Ukraine.
- Grace and chic. The reluctance of the Dutch to stand out, the cold climate, cycling - all this leads to the fact that, being a very attractive nation in general, the Dutch rely on impersonal comfort when it comes to clothing.

You rarely see local women in dresses and heels, especially in bright colors.

stylish, but not enough!

Yes, a change in the younger generation is happening, but very slowly (everyone who is now throwing tomatoes at me with the assertion that crowds of well-dressed and original people walk along the streets of Amsterdam - think again: not all of them are Dutch, I would even say that the majority are not, I advise you to sit in a cafe away from the tourist centers and watch the visitors). Take, for example, the fact that the most popular fashion blogger from Amsterdam (and the whole of Holland) is a Mexican girl who came to Amsterdam several years ago.

- Scope. What you are so dismissive and even condemning in your own country may be in short supply in Holland. Brought up in the tradition of modesty and work, the Dutch do not throw dinner parties or arrange lavish meals (they themselves laugh that the concept of “Dutch cuisine” combines two incompatible concepts: Dutch and cuisine - the food here is simple and uncomplicated, whose deliciousness for many questionable). They are frightened by Russian parties, organized on a grand scale, or Israeli dinners with a table laden with food - the Dutch are accustomed to the principle “you give me - I will give you”, and at home they serve coffee with one piece of biscuit, no more, so such ostentatious generosity is frightening their.

annotation

The engineering history of the Netherlands, dating back more than 2000 years, is an ongoing struggle against hydrogeological threats. For centuries, the sea advanced into the territory of the Kingdom, and from the mainland, river floods “washed away” the country’s economy. This article examines the chronicle of engineering surveys and decisions on the issue of flood protection, describes the most significant projects, traces the path from spontaneous bank protection to an integral approach to working with water resources in the 20th - 21st centuries, when issues of economic development of territories, residential construction, ecology and tourism have become inseparably linked.

Geography

The Netherlands is located at the lower reaches of three major European river basins: the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. The area of the European part of the country (without dependent territories in the Caribbean region) is 41.5 thousand km², the population is 16.5 million people. About 30% of the surface of the Netherlands lies below sea level and is protected to the west and north by a complex of dunes and dikes.

The Netherlands is an old center of highly intensive agriculture and a key transport hub supplying Central European countries with goods arriving by sea. The need to protect the land from sea tides and, as well as a long tradition of draining shallow sea zones, led to the development of the country's extremely complex hydraulic infrastructure. The combination of physical conditions and purposeful human actions has led to the creation of a unique water resource management system: the water level in almost every body of water is under human control.

With a fairly high amount of precipitation (769 mm per year) in the summer in the Netherlands, there is a shortage of water resources. About 10% of the country's territory is subject to frequent declines in groundwater levels, making water depletion a serious problem for agriculture and environmental protection. The situation is complicated by the need for large-scale use of groundwater for irrigation and drinking water. Since 1950 alone, the provision of water to agricultural areas has increased water scarcity areas by 25%.

Two thirds of the Dutch population live in areas at high risk of flooding: areas below sea level require constant protection, as do higher areas subject to periodic floods.

The Netherlands faces not only a significant shortage of drinking and agricultural water, but also a shortage of territory. The space around rivers is necessary not only to ensure safety during floods, but also to maintain environmental sustainability and preserve the transport functions of river basins.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of 12 provinces, divided into 647 municipalities (hereinafter we do not consider the possessions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean region). In the field of water resources management, there are 55 water committees that manage the territories of various municipalities. Water management in the Netherlands is carried out at the national, provincial and water committee levels.

Story

Early stage

The first dams in the Netherlands appeared more than 2 thousand years ago. At that time, sea level was about one and a half meters lower than today. Its gradual, steady increase has led to the constant construction and destruction of protective structures along the sea and river banks. Active agriculture, drainage of swamps and development of peat deposits led to changes in the water regime of the territories and caused intensification and frequency of floods, which regularly damaged protective dams.

Between 800 and 1250, much of the territory of the Northern and South-Eastern Netherlands was lost to sea encroachment, aided by extensive coastal peat mining and a series of strong storm tides.

In the 12th century, river floods were relatively rare in the Netherlands, but the tides significantly changed the shape of the coast. The number of floods gradually increased during the 13th century, and in the 14th century they became a serious problem.

The medieval climatic optimum stimulated vigorous population growth and the urban craft and trading economy of the Netherlands. Rising groundwater levels have led to the transfer of arable land to higher areas inland and the conversion of coastal areas to pasture lands. Irrigation of new arable land, together with deforestation of neighboring German territories, led to an increased risk of flooding. Rising land values, active urbanization and a general increase in the welfare of the population created the need for the development of flood protection measures.

High and Late Middle Ages

In the 13th century, the first modern dyke system was created in Holland and Utrecht. The first water committees (Dutch “waterschap”) were formed, whose responsibilities included ensuring drainage, building and operating protective dams. The oldest (before 1250) water committees appeared in the southern part of Utrecht, southern Gorinchem and northern Leiden. Many of the old water committees are still functioning.

The water committees were relatively independent village bodies reporting to the Count of Holland and the Bishop of Utrecht. The formation of water committees in the 13th century was the first manifestation of the influence of natural risks on the formation of central government bodies in the Netherlands. The laws, regulations and distribution of responsibilities for the maintenance of protective dams have been codified in the “dam charters” (Dutch “dijkbriefis”) since 1273.

The beginning of the fourteenth century was a time of widespread disaster throughout Europe. The Netherlands was no exception: in 1313 and 1315, the country was hit by major floods, and in 1314–1317, serious crop failures led to starvation of every tenth inhabitant of the country. In response to the destruction of 1313–1315, by 1350 a system of protective dams was created in the deltas of all major Dutch rivers. The organizational structure of hydrogeological risk management, based on local authorities, remained unchanged until the mid-18th century, when the position of Inspector General of the Rhine Delta was created.

The Little Ice Age (from 1480) also led to the deterioration of natural conditions throughout Western Europe. Since the second half of the 15th century, ice jams became a frequent occurrence in the Netherlands, which residents of the region encountered for the first time. Sandbanks and protective dams along the river banks prevented the flow of ice - as a result, huge ice dams were formed that blocked the rivers.

A series of large storm surges in the 15th–17th centuries led to large-scale loss of coastal land and changes in the structure of the Rhine delta. Storm surges from the sea were accompanied by large floods. Gradual shallowing has led to a decrease in river capacity and a general increase in hydrological risks. The subsidence of soils protected by dams, especially after the introduction of new drainage technologies, has necessitated the need to strengthen protective structures through the construction of additional small dams and diversion channels.

New time

In the 16th-17th centuries, the United Provinces became the world's largest economic center. There were several reasons for this. The Netherlands took over the leadership in intermediary ocean trade from Portugal, which allowed the Dutch to receive enormous incomes due to price inequality in different regions of the world. For a long time, the Netherlands had a monopoly on the trade in Indonesian spices, an extremely expensive commodity at that time. The Netherlands was also a leader in many industries, particularly shipbuilding. By the 17th century, the country's urban population accounted for about 60% of the population.

Until the 17th century, the fight against water threats in the low-lying territory of the Netherlands was purely defensive. If the dam was destroyed, a new one was built in its place. In some cases, additional dams were required to be built behind previously built structures, with residents having to leave reclaimed land between the two dams. Sometimes, due to the advance of the sea or changes in river beds, entire villages had to be abandoned.

However, with the invention of a windmill capable of pumping water to a higher level, as well as a series of improvements in the design of protective dams, it became possible to reverse this process and go on an “offensive at sea.” Economic growth and population growth in the United Provinces stimulated the expansion of agricultural land. Due to the investments of Amsterdam merchants, the drainage and development of the coastal strip was carried out. By the end of the 18th century, a significant part of the coastal territory had been transformed into highly productive agricultural areas. The construction of dams and polders on the territory of the most economically developed provinces - Holland and West Friesland - significantly changed the appearance of these lands in a relatively short time. The cities were connected by a dense network of communications within the framework of a single market for agricultural products. The drainage of coastal zones was carried out through the construction of polders - zones surrounded by dams, in which groundwater levels were controlled through the operation of pumping stations.

In 1795, the highly decentralized Republic of the United Provinces ended, replaced first by the Batavian Republic (1795 - 1806) and later by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The country came under the significant influence of French centrism, which also affected the area of water risk management. In 1798, the first central water risk management body, the Water Management Board (Rijkswaterstaat), appeared. In the 19th century, significant changes were made to legislation that allowed central authorities to intervene in the construction and maintenance of protective structures on the ground.

Steam engines, spreading across the European continent, were almost immediately introduced into the water management system: in 1820, by order of King William I, the Zuidplaspolder, which became the lowest point in the Netherlands (7 meters below sea level), was drained using steam power ). From the 1820s to the 1850s, the former artisan levee experts were replaced by professionals trained by the Corps of Engineers, which had been charged with overseeing the defenses since 1849.

The spread of steam power in the second half of the 19th century allowed for more precise control of groundwater levels at depths of 0.5 - 1 meter, which significantly increased land productivity. Subsequently, diesel and electric pumping stations made it possible to control groundwater levels at depths of more than one meter, resulting in the possibility of moving towards more productive agriculture.

XX century

The 20th century was a time of implementation of huge transport, energy and engineering projects in all regions of the world. This trend has not bypassed the Netherlands, where, since 1920, many major engineering solutions have been implemented in the field of engineering protection of territories and water resources management.

South Sea Project (Zuiderzee).

In 1891, minister Cornelis Lely proposed between the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. According to the project, the inland South Sea was transformed into Lake IJsselmeer.

Lelya's plan included the creation of numerous polders. Significant impetus for the project was given by the major flood of 1916, as well as the experience of the Netherlands' excessive dependence on food imports during the First World War. The new polders were supposed to provide the necessary expansion of agricultural land and increase food production.

Construction of the dam began in 1920 and was completed in 1932. By that time, the large Währingermeer polder in the northern part of the future lake had been in operation for two years. Subsequently, the remaining planned polders were built: North-East (48 thousand hectares, 1942), East Flevoland (54 thousand hectares, 1957) and South Flevoland (43 thousand hectares, 1968).

Project Delta

The second important and symbolically significant project in the field of water resources management was the Delta project - a set of works to protect the South-Eastern part of the Netherlands from floods and soil salinization.

After several decades of research and preparatory design, in 1940 a government commission concluded that dams in Zealand and other provinces were in poor condition. On January 29, 1953, two design concepts for the work were presented. Just two days later, a severe storm caused flooding in the province of Zealand, killing more than 1,800 people. The need for new construction became obvious and the start of the grandiose project was accelerated.

An important part of the project was a fundamental study of the problem of floods, which resulted in the creation of the “Delta Norm” concept, which describes the basic principles: Instead of analyzing in detail the experience of previous floods and designing means of protection against threats of the past, the experts of the Delta Project Commission released a breakthrough concept describing the implementation process investments in flood protection.

The framework concept was called the “Delta Norm” and included the following principles:

The main areas in need of flood protection were identified; they were given the name “circular dam protection zones.”
A statistical model was developed that calculated the cost of a possible flood, including damage to private property, loss of industrial production, and cost of human life. Within this model, the cost of a human life lost due to flooding is estimated at 2.2 million euros (as of 2008).
For all territories of the country, the risk of river floods and sea storms was calculated on the “Deltar” computer (Delta Getij Analogon Rekenmachine).

The most important area of circular dike protection was the coast of South Holland, which has a population of more than four million people. Most of them live below sea level. In this region, the loss of life in the event of a catastrophic flood could be exceptionally high due to the extremely short warning time for storms in the North Sea. At the same time, a full-scale evacuation of the population would be impossible for the Dutch coast.

Initially, the commission established the level of acceptable risk of a breach for all “circular dam protection zones” as once every 125 thousand years. But this level of protection implied the construction of cyclopean structures that were beyond the means of even the fairly wealthy Netherlands. Therefore, the following acceptable risks have been established for different regions:

North and South Holland - 1 breakthrough every 10 thousand years
Other coastal flood risk areas - 1 flood every 4 thousand years
Other areas at risk of flooding - 1 flood every 2 thousand years

Areas prone to river floods received a higher level of acceptable risk due to a longer warning period and the possibility of large-scale evacuation of the population:

Areas of South Holland at risk of river floods – 1 flood every 1250 years
Other areas at risk of river floods - 1 breakthrough every 250 years

The level of acceptable flood risk was enshrined in the “Delta Laws”, according to which compliance with specified parameters, maintenance and, if necessary, renewal of protective structures became the responsibility of the Dutch government. Risk levels have also been included in the latest edition of the Water Laws, in force since 2009.

From 1953 to 1997, 13 huge dams were built, significantly increasing the security of the entire region. In total, more than 2.4 thousand km of main dams and 14 thousand km of auxiliary dams were built. This scale of work makes the Delta project one of the largest in the world.

New concepts for water management in the 21st century

In the late 1990s, the Committee on 21st Century Water Management was formed and released the report “A Different Approach to Water Management” in 2001. The key innovative idea of the report was the emphasis on creating additional space for the movement of water masses during floods, rather than on mechanical strengthening of the banks. According to the authors, this would lead to a reduction in the likelihood of destruction due to floods, inundation of the area during heavy rains, and would become a way to store water during drought periods. Overall, the new document signaled a shift from a “pump and drain as quickly as possible” approach to a “hold, store and drain” strategy.

Examples of new water management strategies include the development of regional reservoirs, the Meuse project and the national project “Space for Rivers”.

Project "Maas"

In 2006, the Directorate General for Civil Engineering and Water Management and the regional authorities of Limburg embarked on a major infrastructure project that became known as the Maas Project. The objective of the project was to reduce flood risks in the regions of Limburg, North Brabant and Gelderland.

To achieve this, it was planned to widen and deepen the riverbed of the Meuse, which would not only reduce the risk of flooding, but also increase the navigability of the rivers over 150 kilometers and satisfy the demand for gravel. The project included the creation of hundreds of hectares of new farmland and the creation of two shipping canals in North Limburg. Also near Roermond, the development of a water retention zone with two reservoirs and a fortified embankment 40 km long began. Completion of the project is scheduled for 2015–2017. The total work budget amounted to 500 million euros.

Project "Space for Rivers"

The areas immediately adjacent to river dams are becoming increasingly populated and saturated with agricultural and industrial facilities, which significantly increases the amount of damage if protective structures fail to cope with flooding. In order to significantly reduce the risk of flooding in these areas, as well as increase their population and investment attractiveness, the Dutch government launched the “Space for Rivers” project in 2006.

Three key goals were identified for the project:

By 2015, all channels of the Rhine should pass 16 thousand m3 of water per second
The quality of the surrounding space should be improved
Additional space needs to be preserved for future river channel expansion

Work on the project began in 2007 and included a number of measures:

creation of special floodplains filled with water in case of floods;
dredging;
creation of new reservoirs;
construction of reserve river channels;
distance of dams from the river bed;
deepening of breakwaters;
reduction of polder area;
removing obstacles to water flow;
strengthening dams;

Completion of the project is scheduled for 2015.

The significance of the Dutch experience

Over Eight Centuries of the Netherlands. During the same period, 520 thousand hectares were reclaimed from the sea. Accordingly, the country's territory decreased by 50 thousand hectares compared to 1200. The project that could bring this balance to zero - the Markerwaard polder - was closed in 1991 due to the slowdown in the country's population growth, the reduction in the need for agricultural land and high environmental risks. Many old methods of dealing with hydrogeological risks have now fallen by the wayside.

An important aspect of the new approach to the construction of engineering protection systems in the Netherlands is to give them a significant aesthetic function. Many dams and other protective structures become boulevards and parks. Water risk management has come to be seen as an element of spatial planning. As a result of the symbiosis of the latest scientific achievements in the field of hydrogeological risk management and the latest developments in modern design, the creation of safe spaces for economic activity and living is perceived not only as an engineering project, but also as an architectural project. National programs such as “Space for Rivers” explicitly state that it is water that makes the Netherlands beautiful. An integrated approach to working with water resources, which is not separated from the issues of economic development of territories, housing construction, ecology and tourism, has become a priority. When creating new protective structures, not only direct financial costs are taken into account, but also the social cost of construction.

The Dutch history of interaction between man and water is extremely interesting in many respects. Few countries in the world have been as closely connected to water as the Netherlands. And the fact that a country that has experience in local, decentralized work with natural risks, and experience in state construction of colossal protective structures, is currently moving to non-trivial, integral approaches, indicates to engineers and planners around the world what is the most breakthrough direction.

In its pure form, the Dutch experience can certainly be reproduced in few places, especially on the territory of such large countries as Russia. However, currently existing projects for the development of new economic zones in the coastal regions of Russia make Dutch practices mandatory for domestic specialists to study.

Reference

Tradition of approvals

One of the typical features of the Netherlands is a long tradition of government consultation with various groups in society. The roots of this tradition lie in the period 1917 - 1967, when the state was required to implement a regime of so-called “democracy of peace” to achieve agreement between various factions in Dutch society (although it should be noted that the method of collective decision-making was basic to the Republic of the United Provinces centuries ago ). At that time, Dutch society consisted of Catholics, Protestants, socialists and liberals - with each group having a strong corporate structure and having its own media, schools, sports clubs, etc. The coexistence in political and public life of several organizations with similar goals, but different ideologies, has led to the need for mutual consultations and the constant development of consensus. Despite the fact that the strict division of Dutch society into groups weakened somewhat after 1967, the tradition of constant negotiations remained unchanged.

While holidaying in Holland, you will use our energy, gas and water supply networks. They may be different from what you are used to at home. On this page you will find all the information you need to ensure a pleasant stay.

Electricity

The voltage in the Dutch network is 230 volts. Hotel rooms often have 110- and 120-volt outlets for electric shavers, but it is recommended that you bring an adapter for two-prong plugs and plugs with round prongs and a grounding pin on the side.

If you are staying in the Netherlands for a long time, you may want to purchase equipment such as a hairdryer or razor locally. Or you can use battery-powered appliances if you don't mind replacing them.

Water

Tap water in the Netherlands is of excellent quality. Unless otherwise stated, you can drink tap water everywhere. Bottled and bottled water can be purchased at supermarkets, eateries and kiosks.

Gas

Most Dutch homes cook with gas. Gas is also used for heating and water heating.

Units

In the Netherlands, the metric system is adopted, and, accordingly, the unit of measurement for length is the meter, the volume of liquids is the liter, and the unit of weight is the kilogram. This distinguishes Holland from countries that have adopted the British system of weights and measures. Conversion between the two systems is carried out as follows:

Kilometers and miles
1 mile = 1.609 kilometers
1 kilometer = 0.621 miles

Liters and gallons
1 gallon = 4.546 liters
1 liter = 0.220 gallons

1 pound = 0.453 kilograms
1 kilogram = 2.204 pounds

“Half of the territory of the Netherlands lies below sea level, so Amsterdam is protected from flooding by numerous dams and dams. Even the name of the city comes from two words: Amstel and dam. Amstel is the name of the river on which the city is located, and dam means “dam” in translation. For hundreds of years, the Dutch have been reclaiming land from the sea. Construction on scarce land becomes very expensive - swampy soils require driving a large number of piles.

Over time, alternative types of housing appeared - houses on the water. These structures are made of lightweight but durable wood and aluminum. The houses are located on a special floating platform, so that they can be easily moved from place to place using a boat. The invention is intended to solve the problem of shortage of land for housing construction in the country. Dutch architects intend to create an entire city on the water in 50 years. If now in the Netherlands about 200 floating houses are built per year, then according to experts, by 2025 this number will increase 100 times - up to 20 thousand houses on the water. At this rate, the Dutch will apparently have to again flood the land they have so hard won from the water.”

In order to preserve the historical appearance of cities, it is customary to severely sober the imagination of architects with bureaucratic requirements, sometimes absurd. Holders of the keys to new floating villas in the Amsterdam district of Zeeburg are no longer happy that they got involved in the construction of the experimental IJburg microdistrict. More than a hundred floating houses are planned for Ijburg, but many of these houses cannot make it to Amsterdam because they do not meet strict rules on the depth or height of floating buildings.

A little background about houseboats in Amsterdam.

In Holland, water houses appeared quite a long time ago, and spread in the last century. After the Second World War there was a catastrophic shortage of housing. At this time, the Dutch fleet was modernizing, and people, deprived of “land” housing, began to settle in old decommissioned ships that were laid up. Now there are about 10 thousand water houses in the country, of which about 2.5 thousand are moored in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. Previously, houseboats were considered very inconvenient and were bought by retired skippers because it was a cheap way to live in the center of Amsterdam. An old barge usually has two, maximum three, rooms, a tiny kitchen, a toilet and a shower, in which you have to stand at attention. Plus poor ventilation and high humidity. In Amsterdam you can still find ancient barges from the 19th century, which still serve their intended purpose well. Over time, such houses became fashionable, and today it is very prestigious to have one.

Barge houses located in the center cost a lot of money, since there is no more space left on the canals. The average price for a residential barge is about 500 thousand euros. Another approximately 1 thousand euros per year is spent on repair work. This includes mooring fees, water tax and mandatory derusting of the hull every 5 years. In addition, there are many other legal restrictions for "boat people". Mortgage loans for the purchase of floating houses are issued by only one Dutch bank - ING. The mooring license is personal, and when selling a residential boat, the authorities have the right not to rewrite the license to the new owner.

The distance between boats must be at least 2 meters, and they must be at least 7 meters from the bridge. However, the appearance of the boats cannot be changed without permission from local authorities. Space for houses on the water in the center has long since run out, and now in Amsterdam one of the few places where you can moor your house is the Ijburg area, which began to be built in 1996.

Many opposed the construction, arguing that it would disrupt the natural balance of Lake Ijmeer. Local authorities had to hold a referendum in 1997: 60 percent of those who voted were against it. But due to low turnout (only 41 percent), the result was not recognized, and construction continued. Ijburg consists of 3 islands, the area will be completely ready in 2012. 18,000 houses will accommodate residents and provide employment to more than 10 thousand people. The plan includes houses, schools, shops, sports centers, restaurants, a beach and a cemetery.

After some area was reclaimed from the water for roads and houses, a lake was formed in the new area. On one side of the artificial lake there is a floating quarter, designed by the architectural bureau of Marlies Romer. There are different houses here, both large ones with a swimming pool and houses for several families.

The floating house consists of a concrete pallet about one and a half meters high; a wooden frame is placed on it, which is lined with bench panels. Concrete boxes are moored to the piers.

These houses have one feature: they can change and move at the request of the owners. For example, you can moor a panton with a greenhouse or lawn to your house, or expand your existing house by purchasing a module with additional rooms. The houses are assembled like a kit.

Project by architect Marlies Rohmer (www.rohmer.nl). The houses were designed in 2001, and the block was delivered from the shipyard in 2009. The construction cost is 1000 euros per sq. m. meter.

This is how fully finished houses with finishing float into place.

Typically a houseboat has 3 floors. All necessary communications are connected to the house.

Houseboat

House with lawn

A new generation of houseboats are currently being tested in the Netherlands. These structures are made of lightweight but durable wood and aluminum. The houses are located on a special floating platform, so that they can be easily moved from place to place using a boat. The invention is intended to solve the problem of shortage of land for housing construction in the country. Dutch architects intend to create an entire city on the water in 50 years. If now in the Netherlands about 200 floating houses are built per year, then according to experts, by 2025 this number will increase 100 times - up to 20 thousand houses on the water. At this rate, the Dutch will apparently have to again flood the land they have so hard won from the water.

Houseboat.

A structure has been created at the state level to support the construction of experimental housing. In the future, when houseboats gain a foothold in the real estate market, there are plans to build entire floating communities and small towns.

Houseboat in Amsterdam.

Along the other bank is the only place in Amsterdam where you can build a house according to your own design.

A floating villa should not be submerged in water more than one and a half meters. Its height from the water level should not exceed seven and a half meters. To tailor their homes to these requirements, villa owners spend tens of thousands of euros, but the ideal result cannot be achieved.