Hard to imagine these days, but how do you calculate the complex forces that exert their influence on a major water management project without the aid of a computer? In the analogue days engineers did this among other things by simulating reality. In the Waterloopbos woods in Noordoostpolder you will find scale models of 35 renowned hydraulic projects. This is where hydraulic engineers did their testing in the nineteen fifties and sixties. The Delta Works were also tested here, as well as the ports of Rotterdam, Lagos, IJmuiden, Istanbul and Bangkok.
The Waterloopbos is located in the Voorsterbos woods, which is sited right on the cusp between the old and new land. As the new land lies many metres lower, natural rapids occur here. With the help of this flowing water plus the creation of weirs, dams and wave machines, the engineers were able to test the influences certain forces would have on their proposed constructions.
No testing has been done here for decades and in many places the models have been reclaimed by nature. The old water ducts, weirs and sluices are now full of plants and shrubs. Wildlife such as kingfishers and dragonflies have made their home here next to Waterloopbos’s flowing waters. A unique place where the forest interacts with the dated technology.
Many years ago, large amounts of water passed through the Delta Flume. This colossal wave basin in the Waterloopbos woods near Marknesse was once used as a test model for the Delta Works.
Through necessity, the endless struggle against the water has made Dutch engineering a world authority in the field of water management.
Discover Batavialand, Schokland, Urk and the Waterloopbos.
