Markerwaard
Encyclopedia
The Markerwaard is the name of a polder
in the IJsselmeer
that was never built and would result as the total or partial reclamation of the Markermeer
. Cornelis Lely
's plan projected a polder in the south-west of the Zuiderzee, originally named simply 'Southwest Polder' and finally Markerwaard Polder, named after the island of Marken
. The Markerwaard would have had an area of 410 km².
Reclamation of the other three polders took place first, however preparations for the Markerwaard were made while draining of the northeast and southeast polders (today's Flevoland
) were underway. In 1957, the island of Marken was connected to continental Holland. In 1976 the dam Houtribdijk
connecting Enkhuizen
and Lelystad
was completed, so the draining of the Markerwaard could begin. A second airport for Amsterdam was planned for the new polder, to relieve Schiphol Airport. However, neither the reclamation nor the airport construction was ever begun.
In the 1980s, the project was revised down leaving bordering lakes
between the polder and North Holland
. Marken
would remain a peninsula, unlike on the original project.
The debate on the decision took more than a decade. The questions concerned the need for other agricultural areas in this region and the need for new subdivisions. The ecology and value of the lake as a recreation area were considered stronger than the potential benefits of the polder. Doubts about the profitability have weighed heavy. In case of drought this lake is very useful for the production of drinking water. On the contrary in heavy weather it is used as buffer zone.
In 2003, after long discussions, it was decided not to build this polder.
In 1941 the first dam for this project was built, but the German occupation stopped the work. Later, it was decided that the Flevoland
should have priority. Without this decision it is likely that the Markerwaard today would exist.
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...
in the IJsselmeer
IJsselmeer
IJsselmeer is a shallow artificial lake of 1100 km² in the central Netherlands bordering the provinces of Flevoland, North Holland and Friesland, with an average depth of 5 to 6 m. The IJsselmeer is the largest lake in Western Europe....
that was never built and would result as the total or partial reclamation of the Markermeer
Markermeer
The Markermeer is a lake in the central Netherlands in between North Holland, Flevoland and its larger sibling, the IJsselmeer. A shallow lake at some 3 to 5 m in depth, it is named after the small former island, now peninsula, of Marken that lies within it...
. Cornelis Lely
Cornelis Lely
Cornelis Lely was a Dutch civil engineer and statesman. He first designed and then realised by a law the Zuiderzee Works, a major project that turned the Zuiderzee into a lake, and converting a huge area into dry land.-Career outline:From 1886 to 1891, Lely led the technical research team that...
's plan projected a polder in the south-west of the Zuiderzee, originally named simply 'Southwest Polder' and finally Markerwaard Polder, named after the island of Marken
Marken
Marken is a peninsula in the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands, located in the municipality Waterland in the province North Holland. It is an island, which nowadays is connected to the North Holland mainland by a causeway. Also, Marken is a well-known tourist attraction, well-known for its characteristic...
. The Markerwaard would have had an area of 410 km².
Reclamation of the other three polders took place first, however preparations for the Markerwaard were made while draining of the northeast and southeast polders (today's Flevoland
Flevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
) were underway. In 1957, the island of Marken was connected to continental Holland. In 1976 the dam Houtribdijk
Houtribdijk
The Houtribdijk is a dike in the Netherlands, built between 1963 and 1975 as part of the Zuiderzee Works, which connects the cities of Lelystad and Enkhuizen. On the west side of the dike is the Markermeer and on the east is the IJsselmeer...
connecting Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.Enkhuizen was one of the harbour-towns of the VOC, just like Hoorn and Amsterdam, from where overseas trade with the East Indies was conducted. It received city rights in 1355...
and Lelystad
Lelystad
Lelystad is a municipality and a city in the centre of the Netherlands, and it is the capital of the province of Flevoland. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk, making the reclamation possible...
was completed, so the draining of the Markerwaard could begin. A second airport for Amsterdam was planned for the new polder, to relieve Schiphol Airport. However, neither the reclamation nor the airport construction was ever begun.
In the 1980s, the project was revised down leaving bordering lakes
Bordering lakes
In the Netherlands, the Bordering lakes form a chain of lakes which separate the Flevopolder with the ancient lands of the provinces of Gelderlandand Utrecht and the Noordoostpolder....
between the polder and North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. Marken
Marken
Marken is a peninsula in the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands, located in the municipality Waterland in the province North Holland. It is an island, which nowadays is connected to the North Holland mainland by a causeway. Also, Marken is a well-known tourist attraction, well-known for its characteristic...
would remain a peninsula, unlike on the original project.
The debate on the decision took more than a decade. The questions concerned the need for other agricultural areas in this region and the need for new subdivisions. The ecology and value of the lake as a recreation area were considered stronger than the potential benefits of the polder. Doubts about the profitability have weighed heavy. In case of drought this lake is very useful for the production of drinking water. On the contrary in heavy weather it is used as buffer zone.
In 2003, after long discussions, it was decided not to build this polder.
In 1941 the first dam for this project was built, but the German occupation stopped the work. Later, it was decided that the Flevoland
Flevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
should have priority. Without this decision it is likely that the Markerwaard today would exist.