The winter of 1825 was marked by wind and rain, with no snow or ice in sight. On February 3rd, when the wind developed into a northwesterly storm and combined with a spring tide, disaster struck. That night, the Netherlands was hit by a storm surge of unprecedented magnitude, making it the largest natural disaster of the 19th century.

Terschelling, with its vulnerable dikes, was heavily affected. This February marks 200 years since this storm surge occurred.

The Scale of the Disaster

In the 19th century, storm surges were not uncommon, but it was also a time when the Netherlands, despite its rich tradition in water management, was more vulnerable than ever. Economic uncertainty and limited resources for water engineering projects left the Zuiderzee dikes in poor condition for years. A rare combination of events – a powerful northwesterly storm, a spring tide, and high water levels caused by persistent rainfall and melting snow – raised the water level to record heights of 2.4 meters above normal. The Zuiderzee dikes broke in numerous places.

Most Dutch people are familiar with the stories of the 1953 flood disaster. The disaster of 1825 is less well-known, but its scale was no less significant. In fact, it was the first storm surge truly experienced collectively by all Dutch people, from Den Helder to Goor and from Groningen to Ghent (as Belgium was still part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands at that time). Large parts of the Netherlands were submerged. The coastal provinces, the Zuiderzee, and the Wadden Islands were particularly hard hit. In Friesland, nearly two-thirds of the land was flooded, with the southwestern region suffering the worst, where water levels reached up to two meters in some areas. Overijssel was the hardest hit: more than 300 people died there. In total, over 800 people lost their lives in the Netherlands. Thousands of animals drowned, and many homes and farms were destroyed, while agricultural land was damaged by saltwater intrusion. Harvests failed for years due to the salinized fields.

Relief efforts were organized nationwide, with funds, food, and clothing collected. The Netherlands showed unity in the face of the water's devastation.

The Wadden Sea Dike, a Weak Spot

The Wadden Sea Dike, also known as the Zuiderdijk, was Terschelling's Achilles' heel. This dike had been repeatedly damaged by storms in the years leading up to the disaster and was only patched up with limited resources. In 1817, the water authority opted to build a cheaper inner dike further inland. While this provided some additional protection, it also resulted in the loss of valuable farmland. The islanders were dissatisfied and attempted to reinforce the old dike with simple materials like bundles of branches and seaweed. However, these measures proved insufficient when the water struck mercilessly in February 1825.

The Night of February 3, 1825

When the water level rose to 2.4 meters above normal around 8:30 p.m., the outer dike breached in numerous places. Even the inner dike could not withstand the water's force. The island turned into a vast lake, and the water penetrated deep into the villages. Only the highest points, such as the church in Midsland, remained dry. In the villages, there was no immediate danger, but several farms located further south were submerged up to their roofs, and many sheds, barns, and stables were destroyed. Amid the chaos, residents rescued each other with boats. In Midsland, livestock, for which there was no fresh water available, was housed in the church. Despite the immense damage, the number of casualties on Terschelling remained low.

Consequences and Recovery

The material damage was enormous. Farms, barns, and stables were destroyed, hundreds of animals drowned, and farmland was salinized. The economic consequences were felt for years. Salinized fields produced poor harvests for years, and many farmers saw their incomes plummet. Due to a lack of resources, it was not until five years after the disaster, in 1830, that the dikes were somewhat restored. In the meantime, the risk of further flooding remained high. It wasn’t until 1840 that agriculture fully recovered.

Remembering and Lessons from History

To commemorate this disaster, a memorial stone was placed in Midsland in 1992. This initiative, developed by Jan Doeksen and designed by Midsland artist Jan van Gent, marks the water height during the flood night of 1825. The stone, embedded in a wall on Buitenlevenglop, shows how high the water reached that night: approximately at hip height.

At the unveiling of the monument in 1992, then-dike warden Jan de Vries warned that Terschelling's safety still left much to be desired. He emphasized that the dikes did not meet the standards of the Delta Act and stated that the chance of a similar disaster was once every 16 years. His words led to action: between 1995 and 2001, the Wadden Sea Dike was reinforced, a six-year operation costing over 51 million euros. More than 500,000 tons of material were brought in, and new drainage sluices at Kinnum and Lies improved water management. Today, the path on the Wadden side of the dike, officially an inspection road, is a popular cycling and walking route.

The storm surge of 1825 is a forgotten chapter in Dutch history, but the disaster remains an important reminder of our eternal battle against the water, especially in an era where climate change poses new challenges. For Terschelling, the storm was a wake-up call that ultimately led to better protection. The monument in Midsland stands as a silent witness to the power of nature and the resilience of the island's inhabitants.