Finney Crosses The Sea

 Today was moving day. After 3 nights in Winkel we set off for Zwiggetle on the eastern side of Holland but first we had to cross the Afsluidijk. The Afsluidijk is a dam that connects Den Oever in North Holland to Zurich in Friesland and was built between 1927 and 1932. It had been talked about since 1876 but the high cost and objections of the fisheries kept it from fruition. After the flood of 1916 and the famine of 1918 the government was convinced  as the population was exploding and the need for more agriculture became apparent. Of course the Dutch were experienced in land reclamation after centuries of building dykes around lakes and emptying them to create fertile polderland. 

The dyke was built by ships depositing till into the open sea from both sides and from two constructed islands until it breached the surface then strengthened by basalt rock and mats of willow switch. It was then raised with sand and clay to its finished height. 

The Afsluidijk is a causeway 32 km long by 90 metres wide and started at a height between 6.7 and 7.4 m at its deepest. It has been raised several times over the years to 7.8 m. Since 2019 the dyke is again being raised another 2 metres. The Afsluidijk dammed off the Zuiderzee, a salt water inlet of North Sea and turning it into the fresh water lake of the Ijsselmeer. There were also two complexes of locks and sluices at both ends of the dyke. It is necessary to routinely discharge water as the lake is fed by the rivers and streams into the Ijsselmeer.

New construction on the Afsluitdijk. In 2008 we cycled over the Afsluitdijk but for now the cyclists are taken by bus over the dyke.

One of the concerns when the dyke was built was the damage to the fisheries. These are fishing weirs along sections of the Afsluitdijk.

If you look closely you can see lots of windmills right in the Ijsselmeer.

Lots of sailing ships. We met a woman who had her camping chair and coffee and was coming to sit to watch her husband swim 5 km. I gather this is fairly routine.

In 2019 decided to raise the Afsluitdijk another 2 meters due to increasing sea levels and climate change storms. These Levvel blocs. Modern designed to use less concrete there for a smaller carbon footprint. There are 70,000 of these blocks, each weighing 6,500 kg placed as a new top layer. They are designed to break the waves of strong storms on the bottom of the dyke. 

I had to touch the Ijsselmeer. It was darn cold.

This is the top of the completed part. A special and unique vegetation has developed here over the last 90 years. Before the work was done on the dyke a special seed collection was taken. They used a special seed slurry, a combination of clay, water and seeds and placed between the quatro blocs ( where Ed is standing) hoping the flora will return. A herb-rich grass mix was also sewn on the crown and inner slopes As well, the Levvel blocks have a roughened layer with notches on them where seaweed can attach and mussels and crayfish can live.

Of course you have to dip both sides. BRRRR!

Along with up grades to locks and sluices the environmentalists managed to fight for a fish migration river. The dyke of course prevented the migration of fish that live in salt and fresh water so they have develop an artificial tidal river.

After a windy break we continued on to our destination by wandering along the polders down thorugh Sneek and Noordpostpolder where the tulip festival is.

Our weather has changed and it is more like the spring weather we were expecting. Even a little bit of rain.

Very steep roofs.

Griffins comment was "Why the f**k is there a wall in the middle of the road?" Not realising there was a draw bridge ahead.

Ships coming through the canal.

Upside down house. Architecture is innovative and unusual.

Pretty houses on canals.

No explanation necessary.

Not many tulips left but there were these white ones.

I love the yellow and red tulips.

We pondered these hills for a few days but came up with they are for potatoes. I am thinking of trying this at home instead of hilling them after they sprout.

Tree lined country lanes.

Flat large fields.

We traveled to a little town called Urk where we took a lunch break but also because Fin decided it was time to christian the car seat with his first poop explosion. Enough to gag a big guy. Fin also decided that Grumpa's lunch was worthy of taste testing.

Our new home. This one is called a holiday rental. 

One of the best thing about traveling with your grandchild is loving wrestling.

Steep stairs again. There was a big room where we could put our bags so we didn't have to haul them up the stairs.