In 1953 the North Sea flooded large parts of the south-west of the Netherlands, the province of Zeeland. Since then, this river delta has been protected by immense dykes, dams and flood barriers. One large water inlet, the Oosterschelde, was on the list to get cut off from the sea. This would mean the loss of a gigantic salt water biotope with all its animals, seelife, birdlife. It was decided to have a flood barrier build instead of a dam, a very expensive solution. Nowadays, the Oosterschelde is more beautifull than ever before.