English subtitles for clip: File:Zes jaar na de stormvloed.ogv

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Six years it has been since the flood disaster
struck the southwest of our country.

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These days many will remember
the images of indescribable sorrow.

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Especially in the disaster area itself
people will think back to those February days,

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when the seawater took possession
of the fertile land

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and of the lives of 1795 inhabitants.

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But people will also remember

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how in a struggle
that lasted only ten months

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the breaches in the dikes were closed

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and how quickly the flooded
areas were reclaimed.

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In our parliament,

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the Delta Plan,

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which must prevent a disaster
like that of 1953 in the future,

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was adopted almost unanimously.

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The result of the vote is

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that 106 members declared in favor of the bill

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and 8 against, so that it is passed.

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The Delta Plan provides for the closure of the estuaries
between the South Holland and Zeeland islands.

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Dams will be built in the Haringvliet
between Voorne and Goeree,

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in the Brouwershavense Gat
between Goeree and Schouwen,

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in the Oosterschelde
between Schouwen and Noord-Beveland,

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and in the Veeregat.

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When these closures
and the additional works are completed

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the residents behind the high dikes
will likely be safe

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from the violence of the sea.

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What do people in the former disaster area
think of the Delta Plan?

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We asked Mayor Romeijn in Ouwerkerk.

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Ouwerkerk is one of the villages
that suffered the most from the flood.

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Ten months of ebb and flow.

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At high tide meters of water through the streets.

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Do you remember the closure
of the last dike hole?

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Now the village with restored houses

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and the new church
lies peacefully in the polder.

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We have full confidence
that the Delta Works will increase safety.

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In the vicinity of Schelphoek,
on the island of Schouwen,

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we asked the opinion of farmer Klompen.

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Here in the Schelphoek where, after the disaster,
we had to give up more than 200 hectares of land,

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because inland a ring dike has been built of caissons,

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the largest of which still protrudes above the dike.

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I am in favor of the Delta Plan,
because we will be able to live here more safely

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and also because it prevents the salinization of the soil.

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The mood is completely different in the old town of Veere,

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where fishery as an important source
of income threatens to be lost

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due to the dike in the Veeregat,
which is already largely finished.

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The mood was reflected
in the words of fisherman Minneboo.

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I was born here in Veere
and I would like to stay here,

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but [inaudible] the dike is closed

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and then the fishermen have to leave

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and I don't know where to go.

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One work has already been completed.

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That is the storm surge barrier
in the Hollandse IJssel near Krimpen.

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The gigantic water barrier
can already prevent

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that the inhabitants of the hinterland
are surprised by high water.

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In many other places,
work is progressing steadily,

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such as here in the Haringvliet,

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where the construction pit for the
drainage sluices has already been enclosed.

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It is expected that the last work
will be completed in about 25 years.

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The southwest Netherlands will then
be protected, thanks to the Delta Plan,

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of which Jonkheer de Casembroot,
the Queen's Commissioner in Zeeland, says:

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The advantages are: better connections
and above all, safety,

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and other advantages.

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The objections are:
the threat to fisheries

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and the risk of loss of traditions.

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Yet on balance

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an impressive example of the vigor
of the Dutch people.