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Lezing Diederik Aten “Van Hondsbossche Zeewering tot Hondsbossche Duinen”

25 January 2026
- 14:00 – 16:00

Hondsbossche Sea Defence

The dike, over 5 kilometers long, is located where the St. Elizabeth’s Flood of 1421 washed away a large portion of the dune range, causing the village of Petten to disappear beneath the waves. The dunes were subsequently restored, but the sea continued to erode them, resulting in more and more land being lost to the sea. In the 16th century, to protect the dune strip, pilings were erected along the coastline and breakwaters were built, extending into the sea at right angles to the coast. However, these reinforcements were unable to prevent a breach during the extremely severe storm surge of 1570 (All Saints’ Flood). At the end of the 18th century, a sand dike was constructed near Petten. In 1880, the vulnerable dike on the seaward side was reinforced with basalt blocks. The dike proved capable of withstanding severe storms.

Coastal reinforcement 21st century

In 2004, new data on sea level rise and wave power revealed that the Hondsbossche and Pettemer Sea Walls were a weak link in the Dutch coastal defense system. In 2012, the solution chosen was to reclaim 35 million cubic meters of sand offshore. A steel sheet pile had already been installed in the Sea Wall.

Diederik Aten takes us through the interesting history of the dike and tells in a captivating way about the centuries-long struggle of the North Hollanders against the water.

The lecture will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the museum’s visitor center. Admission is €7.50 per person, including two coffees or teas, payable before the lecture begins. Museum Card holders pay €2.50 per person. Doors open at 1:30 PM. Reservations (not required) can be made by calling 0227 544732 or emailing info@stoommachinemuseum.nl.