A dike breach occurred at Ouderkerk aan de IJssel in the Netherlands due to a storm surge, causing flooding upstream along the tidal reach of the Hollandse IJssel river during low tide. A ship was able to close the breach and save central Holland from further flooding, while civilians worked to repair the damaged dike.

1. Dike Breach
Breach on dike from
storm surge

2. Breach at Ouderkerk aan de IJssel, upstream along
the tidal reach of the river Hollandse IJssel, at the
time of tidal low water (from Van Veen 1962).

3. Ship closes dike breach and saved the central parts of Holland
from flooding (from Slager 1992; photo: C. van Gennip).

4. Civilians work to repair broken dam