Year 10 Geography Trip to the Netherlands
We (Year 10s, Dr Hartley, Miss Bennett, Ms Williams & Mr Eason) had an early start on Friday 14th February… we departed school at 5am for Dover. Egmond aan Zee (about 20 miles north west of Amsterdam) was our destination. We arrived in the late afternoon via the ferry and coach.
Whilst in the Netherlands the Year 10s visited Java Island (Amsterdam) which is a former inner city docklands area that has been regenerated into a residential zone. We walked around this area and observed urban change and development.
Ijburg was also seen. This is newly formed land, developed as a residential district to house the growing population of Amsterdam. This offered a contrasting look at urban redevelopment in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Canal cruise was enjoyed and took in a different perspective – looking up at the city, e.g. the passing of Anne Frank’s House.
The Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory was an interesting experience as they demonstrated how clogs and cheese are made. The shop there earned a good profit from the cheese bought. They had various different cheeses, most of which cannot be bought in regular supermarkets. A unique place.
The UNESCO World Heritage - Kinderdijk - was visited on a chilly, dry and bright day. There were 18th-century windmills. Its water-management network features 19 mills and three pumping stations, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the polder (low-lying land reclaimed from the sea). Waterways, footpaths and bike trails crisscross the area.
We went to Noordwijk and saw some coastal defence measures- rather crucial for the Netherlands as, depending on figures believed, it is between 26 – 50% below sea level. This leads onto the Dutch Delta Scheme. A Visitor Centre for the final element of the Delta Works completed in 1997 which we saw. Maeslant is a moveable storm surge barrier that spans the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway), a canal that connects the River Rhine to the North Sea. It is the final line of defence, protecting one million people, in and around Rotterdam, against high levels of incoming sea water.
The Spido Rotterdam Harbour Tour was of great interest. The boat trip took us to some of the working harbours, shipyards and docks of the Port of Rotterdam. We saw some of the city's architecture and interesting sights such as the Euromast, Erasmus Bridge and SS Rotterdam.
On Tuesday 18th February, after an early start, we arrived back at Robert May’s School. An educational trip that the students enjoyed. The Netherlands is a fascinating country!
