11. The Netherlands has been struggling against floods since the first people settled there The importance of the protection has led the Dutch to dedicate a Department solely to the protection against floods On the night of 31 January/1 February 1953 a storm tide surge broke many dikes This pushed the Dutch government into ordering the Delta Works North Sea flood of 1953 the Disaster The Maaslantkering is a storm surge barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg waterway located between the towns of Hoek van Holland and Maassluis, Netherlands, which automatically closes when needed. Major issues in Netherlands