Delta Project

Assuming you mean the Delta works (Deltawerken), what part of it do you want to visit? The different parts are pretty far apart.

Welcome to the forum smarchal.

The Maeslantkering, the last project of the Delta Works west of Rotterdam is one of the barriers I can recommend to visit. There are guided tours in English and the highlight of the visit is getting close to the barrier. You can get there with public transport, but a car is easier. https://www.keringhuis.nl/english

For visiting the other part of the works you need a car. If you visit the above place first you have too go back to Rotterdam for crossing the river. If you start from Rotterdam-zuid, driving south follow A15 – Europoort, later N57 – Hellevoetsluis / Middelburg.
The first moveable barrier to see is the Haringvlietsluis. Best view is from the breakwater at the southside of the barrier, turn off west to Havens-Stellendam and Buitenhaven, drive further till you see a parking near the landside of the breakwater.

Nice for a break is tiny but cute Goedereede. From there it’s 30 km driving to the Eastern Scheldt (Storm Surge) Barrier. There is a visitor centre and a theme park named Deltapark Neeltje Jans halfway the barrier. There are guided tours and boat tours too. I am afraid you have to buy an All-In-Ticket for just visiting the barrier and associated exhibition. https://www.neeltjejans.nl/en/plan-your-visit/

On the way back Zierikzee is another cute place to visit, maybe a good place for dinner. A moving museum, but worth visiting is the flood disaster museum (Watersnoodmuseum) in nearby Ouwerkerk. You can drive back over the surge barrier again or turn off south of it to Goes and follow later direction Ziekerzee. You will drive than over the Zeelandbrug and Eastern Scheldt estuary, Rotterdam is sign posted from Zierikzee. https://watersnoodmuseum.nl/en/

It’s to my opinion impossible to do this in one day, you have to make a selection or stay a night for instance in Zierikzee, but Veere is certainly worth to consider too. However parking in Veere is very expensive, outside you can do that for free.

Thank you for the information. We are from South Louisiana and are concerned about protecting our coast. Our scientists and engineers have visited the area and some are recommending we build something similar.

We are doing a river cruise and our visit to the Delta Works will be from a moorage at Veere. So parking won't be an issue. Looking forward to seeing this marvel of engineering!

Wow, that makes a visit the more interesting. I live in the most southern part of the delta region and well aware what coast protection for you mean and the challenges your region is facing. The IHNC Lake Born Surge Barrier near New Orleans is similar to the Maeslantkering, so anyway worth visiting. Have seen the Eastern Scheldt Barrier the time it was under construction 40 years ago, but never visited it again after completion, so can not say how worthwhile Deltapark Neeltje Jans is from my own experience. There are mixed reviews, hopefully they made a few improvements in the meanwhile.

I grew up in New Orleans and South Louisiana. I was in NL to visit friends in early 2006 (i.e. not long after Katrina) and they drove us to the Deltawerken. I can tell you it felt like a really important psychological pilgrimage to learn about the Deltawerken and walk above and inside the huge storm surge barrier at Oosterschelde. I don't think the whole water park existed at that time but between the visitor center exhibit and the tour of the barrier, it made for one of the most meaningful travel experiences of my entire life. Engineering like this can make a world of difference, if the citizenry is willing to pay for it.

Thanks monvoyage, I am impressed, that’s a really insightful inspiring response you give. I agree that you only can realize this kind of projects if citizinry is willing to support it. But I am afraid that in general we humans too often have to learn it the hard way before we get to this point. It was only after the flood disaster of 1953 that the Delta Works got the support it needed and realized the way it is today. Facing the climate change we absolutely need to change our minds and work together facing the challenges that lay ahead.