Home > Inundation of the Wieringermeer

1 Preparations

In the end of February or the beginning of March 1945 Dutch workers start to undermine the dike around the polder under German command. The location is near the farm of Beetstra, in the dike with the IJsselmeer.

Deep holes are dug in the dike both at the bottom and at the top of the dike. In these holes explosives will be put. The work is going slowly, as none of the workers is motivated. In April the work comes to a complete stop.

On April 10 however, German officiers come and inspect the work. New workers are sought, and 25 or 50 people are taken from Schagen during a razzia to work on the digging. After a week the holes are deep enough, and explosives are installed. Unexploded bombs from British and American aircrafts are used. In each hole around 1000 kg explosives are put.

2 Reference

• De polder onder water, het verslag van de onderwaterzetting van de Wieringermeerpolder in 1945, J. J. Bosman and P. C. Bosman, Free Media, 1995