THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DRIFT-SAMP DYKE ON THE ISLAND ROTTUMERPLAAT

Abstract

In the paper a description is given of the construction of a dyke using drift-sand on a sandy shoal off the Netherlands' North coast called "Rottumerplaat", and of the experiences gained hereby. Only where necessary for general understanding reference is made to conditions and experiences in other places in Holland* where dunes or dykes are built using drift-sand. The object of the dyke under consideration is to obtain a flood-free strip of land in an area, where this may be useful for future hydraulic engineering works. A special circumstance on Rottumerplaat is the low level in relation to the tidal curvet it has always been assumed that construction of a drift-sand dyke, starting on such a low level, would have no chance of success.