Flooding of the Vecht 1928

Flooding of the Vecht in 1928

The Vecht flows quietly beneath you. But in the past, it was quite different and there were regular floods. The last major flood is seen in this photo from November 1928, when the entire Vecht region was submerged. In Maarssen, the water also reached the front doors and streets and sidewalks were no longer visible. Until the 12th century, there were many floods because the Vecht was still in open connection with the Rhine. There was also a risk of flooding from the Zuiderzee. Westerly storms could push seawater all the way to Utrecht. The construction of sluices in Utrecht and Muiden, at the beginning and end of the Vecht, improved the situation, but this proved insufficient at times. It wasn't until the construction of the Afsluitdijk in 1932 that the flooding risk truly subsided.

Today, the water level of the Vecht is regulated by a pumping station at IJmuiden. This pumps the water via the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal into the North Sea.

This sign is part of the Then and Now walk along the most notable places and buildings in Maarssen. The images from the past are positioned so that you see the current situation from the same perspective as the photographer or artist of that time.

Route: Turn right onto Schippersgracht and walk to Wilhelminaweg.

ZichtopdeVechtstreek