Dubbeltje op Zijn Kant Monument (1953 Flood Disaster, Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel)

Sculpture group."Dime on its side" recalls the flood of 1 February 1953.At midnight it was already NAP + 2.60 m at low tide. This was more than the highest high water level known at that time. The northwestern storm increased to hurricane strength. The persistent rain, hail and wet snow weakened the dike. Sandbags were brought with all might. In addition to the dike surveillance, about 100 marines cooperated. At NAP +3.00 m, preparations for the evacuation started. Some 3 million people in the hinterland were threatened.
At 4.00 am NAP +3.84 m was reached and water was washed over the unpaved dike. The water broke the inside. In some places the dike was only 1 meter wide!
At 5.30 a hole of 15 meters hit the dike! Something had to be done. Mayor J.C. Vogelaar van Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel claimed the ship the Two Brothers from A. Evegroen, which was located nearby. The skipper put the 'head' of his ship in the dike and swung the stern towards the hole. The Two Brothers closed the hole like a lock gate. Then it was filled with sandbags. When the dike near Ouderkerk aan den IJssel broke, the water level dropped and the water pressure decreased.
(text from the information board).The monument belongs to the Water Board of Schieland.

Nice spot along the Hollandse IJssel. Worth pausing to consider the history of the flood disaster.

Historical place that can be nicely combined with a walk through the Hitland forest