A dramatic tidal wave: the combination of a violent storm in the North Sea with a high tide on the night of January 31 to February 1, 1953, and Zeeland, this region of islands formed by the deltas of the Scheldt, the Meuse and the Rhine, a portion of the south-west of the Netherlands, and also large parts of the Belgian and English coasts are found under water.
At sea, the water rises up to 4.50 meters above the normal level. At Hoek van Holland, the high tide is 3 meters above its usual level.
In the Netherlands, the dikes can no longer contain the waves, thousands of homes are washed away. Nearly 2,000 people drowned. Even today, a hundred victims could not be identified. Following this tragedy, the Netherlands launched the Delta plan to block the sea, imitated by similar initiatives in Belgium and Great Britain.
A 250 year storm
The disaster was announced: a storm with winds from the northwest. Like a hurricane.
Usually in the North Sea, the prevailing winds come from the southwest, parallel to the Dutch coast. But on this last day of January 1953, the storm blows straight for the coast. And this violent depression lasts.
The next day, a Sunday, February 1, the tide was exceptional: a tide of white water, swollen by the concordance of the stars. The Moon and the Sun are on the same axis and mutually reinforce their attraction and the rising waters.
Whitewater and storm explain this tidal wave. Result, a phenomenon that is observed only on average every 250 years. The weather forecast warns, the radio warns of the danger of rising waters. The situation is described as “UNUSUAL” to Zwijndrecht, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Willemstad, Cadzand…
But no evacuation on the program, even less panic, and the inhabitants are at home when the monstrous wave occurs. A wall of bubbling water.
