Reporting the Delta

A compelling visual and narrative journey through the ever-changing Dutch Delta
Combining perspectives from science, art and design, the book presents a holistic view of the societal and spatial impacts of climate change
With archival documentaries by, among others, Bert Haanstra, Digna Sinke and Louis van Gasteren
 


Seen from space, it is obvious that the Netherlands is one big river delta. Here fresh water from several major European rivers meets and mingles with the salt water of the North Sea. Not only does this confluence create beautiful nature, it also generates enormous economic activity. Since the twentieth century, the areas surrounding the Delta have undergone drastic changes, the biggest of these being the Delta Works and the creation of Flevoland.

In Reporting the Delta archival documentaries by, among others, Bert Haanstra, Louis van Gasteren and Digna Sinke are used as a tool for understanding these transformations from a historical perspective. They show the huge achievements of technology in modifying nature and controlling water and its movements. Starting with these documentaries, the book draws on multiple disciplines and perspectives in essays, interviews and visual digests, bringing together voices from science, art and design. By blending academic discourse with artistic practices, it offers a fresh approach to examining the complex relationships between technological interventions, climate change and everyday life in and around the Delta.