Deltapark Neeltje Jans lies at the foot of the largest storm surge barrier in the world. What’s the story behind this grand structure? In the Delta Experience, you will experience the historical story of the Dutch fight against water in an innovative, accessible and lively way.
Trailer Delta Experience
4D Animation
The Delta Experience is an impressive 4D animation in a panorama that lets you experience the devastating power of the water. It is the story of the biggest post-war natural disaster in the Netherlands. You will get an impression of what happened in Zeeland on the night of January 31, 1953. A historic event of which no photographs exist. See and experience how the waves of the North Sea wipe out parts of the Netherlands.
When the storm stops, a waterfall of archive footage appears. You can see the damage from the disaster, but also the subsequent reconstruction of Zeeland and the construction of the Delta Works. The educational show warns the visitor about the threat of the water: will the Delta Works be able to protect us in the future?
In the main building of Delta Park you can view the “Delta Experience”, the Expo “Disaster 1953”, the film about this catastrophic disaster of 1953 and the Delta Expo.
1953 Disaster
As you probably know, the southwest of the Netherlands was hit by a huge disaster in 1953. On the night of January 31st to February 1st, it stormed quite hard. The sea water rose up very high as a result. It got so high it washed over the dikes in a lot of places, creating holes in the dikes. The water could flow right in. The low-lying polders were submerged. Hundreds of people drowned. Others could manage with boats or went up to the attic or even on the roof, waiting for help.
Many islands were submerged; in many places, you can still find traces of that disaster. Especially on Schouwen-Duiveland. That island was hit very hard.
In the expo “1953 Disaster”, eye-witnesses tell of their shocking experience in the cold February night in 1953, in sound and images. People lost all their possessions and mourned the 1836 victims. Expo “Disaster of 1953” is not a technical overview, but a human report, compiled from interviews with family members of victims, rescuers, and politicians from that period, supplemented with authentic radio reports.
