dijk

Dijk, in Dutch, refers to a raised embankment or wall built to prevent flooding by seas or rivers, and to control water levels in low-lying areas. The word is cognate with English dyke. Dikes are central to the water-management systems of the Netherlands and other low-lying regions of northwestern Europe.

A dike typically consists of an impermeable core (often clay) surrounded by a shell of earth or stone, a grassy or reinforced crest, and drainage and seepage-control features. Its design includes a crown height, side slopes, toe protection, and often sluices, pumping stations, and spillways to manage water entering or leaving the protected land. There are sea dikes along coasts, river dikes along rivers, and ring dikes around towns or polders.

In history, dikes have been used for centuries to reclaim land and prevent flooding. In the Netherlands, large-scale systems emerged during the medieval period and were expanded in the 20th century. The Delta Works and the Zuiderzee Works, built after the 1953 North Sea flood, dramatically advanced flood protection. The Afsluitdijk, completed in 1932, transformed the Zuiderzee into the IJsselmeer and is among the most notable examples.

In modern practice, dikes are maintained by regional water authorities and national agencies. Safety standards, flood risk assessments, and dike-ring concepts guide maintenance and upgrades to withstand specified flood events. Besides infrastructure, "dijk" also appears as a Dutch surname.