This sturdy monument commemorates the raising of the sea defenses on the island of Texel to Delta height between 1961 and 1981. This dike elevation resulted from the February 1953 flood disaster, during which the Polder de Eendracht on Texel was flooded. In that disastrous event, six Texel men drowned.
The Schicht
Thunderous
The monument, popularly known as the Schicht, is an imposing steel structure on a pedestal of basalt stones. The Schicht was designed by the Texel artist Harry Tielemans (1929-200#) and symbolizes the raised and reinforced sea dikes along the east coast of the island. The shape of the artwork is based on the contours of these dikes. The board of the former Water Board of Texel commissioned this monument. It was unveiled on November 3, 1981, by the then Minister of Transport and Water Management, Mr. H. J. Zeevalking. Today, the Wadden Sea dikes on Texel are managed and maintained by the Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier.