Delta Works: The Netherlands and water with climate adaptation

The Delta Works form a gigantic defense system in the southwest of the Netherlands (Zeeland, western North Brabant & the South Holland islands) to protect the country against high water from the North Sea. The system of 13 large dams, storm surge barriers, and locks was only built after the devastating North Sea Flood of Saturday, January 31 to March 1, 1953 (the Flood Disaster stamp was issued just 9 days later).

The Dutch live with the delicate interplay between land and water. As much as 60% of the country is vulnerable to flooding, and 26% even lies below sea level.

The 'Delta Works – The Netherlands and Water' issue was designed by Hans Gremmen in an edition of 75.000 stamp sheets with 6 stamps, followed by 2 different stamps, with an issue date of October 5, 2026, and printed by Joh Enschedé.

Reason for issuance? Climate adaptation

The reason for issuing the 'Delta Works – The Netherlands and Water' emission is to draw extra attention to climate adaptation. In other words, measures must be taken to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change (such as heat, drought, extreme rainfall, and sea level rise).

Everything involved is future-oriented and dedicated to the lasting and necessary protection of our country through dike raising/reinforcement, and the maintenance and renewal of waterworks. 

Graphic designer Hans Gremmen calls attention to the renovation of all these Delta Waterworks.

By featuring images of the first, last, and most important hydraulic engineering project on this stamp sheet, he draws attention to climate adaptation.

Ten Delta waterworks: [1] Veerse Gatdam (1956 -1961), [2] Maeslantkering (1991 -1997), [3] Oosterscheldekering (1969 – 1986 with no less than 17 years), [4] Bathse Spuisluis (1980 – 1987), [5] Haringvlietdam (1958 – 1971), [6] Hollandse IJsselkering (1954 – 1958), [7] Zeeland Bridge (1963 – 1965), [8] Zandkreekdam (1959 – 1960), [9] Grevelingendam (1958 – 1965), [10] Brouwersdam (1962 – 1972).

The first, last & most important Delta hydraulic engineering project

The gigantic and geographically extensive defense system against water, with its floods, comprises a wide variety of dams, locks, dikes, barriers, and bridges. Graphic designer Hans Gremmen from Amsterdam has made a well-considered selection of three subtopics from this.

1) First hydraulic engineering project (see Delta Works No. 6)

The Hollandse IJssel Barrier (1954–1958, see Delta Waterworks No. 6) was the first structure.

Other basic activities required to carry out the enormous scale and years-long activities of the Delta Works are also discussed in this sub-chapter, including those necessary for the construction of the Veerse Gat Dam [see Delta Waterworks No. 1]. The following machines, such as cranes, caisson tugs, dredgers, draglines, and sand pumps (and pole workers), are also necessary for the execution of the Delta Works.

2) Last hydraulic engineering project (see Delta Works No. 2)

The Maeslant Barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg near Rotterdam was the last structure (1991 – 1997 [Delta Waterworks 3]).

This barrier consists of two enormous, hollow steel gates (floating pontoons, 210 x 22 m, weighing 6.800 tonnes) and two long steel arms (237 m) that connect the gates to large hinges on the banks of the Nieuwe Waterweg. Normally, the gates lie on the bank. At high tide, they automatically sail into the river mouth and fill with water to sink. Only then does the defense against seawater begin.

The doors are depicted in the closed position on the stamp image. This image can easily be divided in two, with both parts lending themselves well to appearing independently on a stamp, on the left or right as shown above. Moreover, the round shapes are repeated in the white recesses and the suns.

Graphic designer Hans Gremmen: “I have made the prominent presence of the sun (rendered in full and half glory) part of the whole. The reason? The sun rises every day and thus symbolizes a new hopeful beginning, corresponding to the start of a safer existence brought about by the construction of the Delta Works.”

Once again, graphic designer Hans Gremmen: “I deliberately chose the oak tree because it is a native tree and the most common tree in our country.”

For both designers of the 'Completion of the Delta Works' (1986) emission, the large quantity of Delta Works elements led them to place everything in historical perspective, resulting in the necessary contrasts in the images.

Detached and abstract-schematic depiction of the Oosterschelde barrier between Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland, with a section of an old engraving of a wildly realistic flood on the left, and calm, gently rippling water on the right.

Schematically drawn pillars (man-force links transitioning into actual pillars) with the photographed movable gates of the Oosterscheldekering in between. On the left, a photo of a dike breach in 1953. The roof of the house is even visible on the postage stamp.

The movable hollow steel gates of the Maeslant Barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg near Hoek van Holland form the final element of the Delta Works. They are floating pontoons measuring 210 x 22 meters and weighing seven tons. The Zeeland Bridge (connecting Noord-Beveland with Schouwen-Duiveland, similar to the Oosterscheldekering) is also one of the masterpieces of the Delta Works project.

3) Largest hydraulic engineering project (see Delta Works No. 3)

The largest and most challenging job of the entire Delta Works project has been the construction of the Oosterscheldekering, which, together with the Zeeland Bridge, connects Schouwe-Duiveland with Noord-Beveland (see Delta Waterworks no. 3 & 7).

4) Previous and additionally added hydraulic engineering project

In 2003, the 'Netherlands and Water' issue (nvph 2152/61) focuses on the closure of the Zandkreek Dam (see Delta Waterworks No. 8) and the closure of the Grevelingen Dam (see Delta Waterworks No. 9).

In 1950, a dike worker was already featured on a Summer stamp, as well as on the 1959 Summer stamp, but was then described as a brushwood worker.

5) Inventory of water words

There is a glossary of Dutch words showing that water is important to our country. Researcher Nico van Duijn has compiled a list of 254 main words and sub-words, starting with No. 1: A, Aa & Ae and ending with No. 178: Zwin.

This dominant glossary is printed in small, hard-to-read blue across the entire right margin of the sheet.