Behind the dyke

For centuries, the Dutch have wrested about a fifth of their total land area from the sea. This is impressively visible at Eemshaven, north of Groningen. Not only are the fields here vast, primarily used for growing vegetables, but so are the tractors and agricultural equipment needed for the task. The farms stand powerfully in this incomparable landscape. The land is protected by a kilometer-long dyke that prevents the occasionally stormy North Sea from flooding this area. From the dyke, our gaze sweeps over the Wadden Sea and the seemingly endless fields – interrupted only by the numerous wind turbines installed off the coast of Eemshaven, providing ecological electricity. As usual, sheep graze on the dyke, and a few geese can be spotted in the sky, approaching the small lake in the nature reserve behind the dyke. A peaceful scene.