The North Sea Flood

In January 1953, a devastating storm hit the North Sea coast, impacting the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK. In the Netherlands, 1,836 people lost their lives. The floods broke dikes, ruined farmland, and left tens of thousands homeless. The tide reached 19 inches higher than any previous record, marking the worst flood in over 400 years. After the storm passed, water levels continued to rise for days. Queen Juliana visited flooded areas near Rotterdam, where half a city of 70,000 was underwater. The US sent helicopters from Germany, and a major international aid effort began.