1932day.year
In the Netherlands, construction of the Afsluitdijk is completed and the Zuiderzee bay is converted to the freshwater IJsselmeer.
The Netherlands completes the Afsluitdijk, transforming the saltwater Zuiderzee into the freshwater IJsselmeer for flood control and land reclamation.
On May 28, 1932, after 13 years of construction, the Dutch completed the Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometer dam designed by engineer Cornelis Lely. By sealing off the Zuiderzee inlet, the structure converted the former saltwater bay into the freshwater IJsselmeer, reducing flood risks for North Holland and Friesland. The project enabled the creation of extensive polders for agriculture and improved water management in a country where much land lies below sea level. It stands as a landmark achievement in hydraulic engineering and Dutch ingenuity. Today, the Afsluitdijk remains vital infrastructure, combining transport routes with storm surge defense.
1932
Afsluitdijk
Zuiderzee
converted
IJsselmeer