Pilot Polder Andijk
Encyclopedia
The pilot Polder Andijk, or Test Polder Andijk, Proefpolder Andijk in Dutch, is a polder
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...

 established in 1926 - 1927 in the Zuiderzee near the village of Andijk
Andijk
Andijk is a former municipality and a village bordering Lake IJssel in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. Since 1 January 2011 Andijk has been part of Medemblik municipality....

. The aim of this prototype is to study the embankments and agriculture for future polders in the Zuiderzee Works
Zuiderzee Works
The Zuiderzee Works are a manmade system of dams, land reclamation and water drainage works, the largest hydraulic engineering project undertaken by the Netherlands during the twentieth century. The project involved the damming of the Zuiderzee, a large, shallow inlet of the North Sea, and the...

. In 1929, the pilot polder was inaugurated by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

Construction

In 1924 the Lovink Committee published a proposal to build a pilot polder. This polder could, on a small scale experiment future agriculture. The knowledge would then be used for the Wieringermeer
Wieringermeer
Wieringermeer is a municipality and a polder in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.- Population centres :The municipality of Wieringermeer consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Kreileroord, Middenmeer, Slootdorp, Wieringerwerf.- History :Around the year...

. These soils contain a high salt content because they were covered by sea water for centuries. For this reason, in 1926-1927 near the village Andijk, 40 hectares of land were reclaimed. On August 27, 1927, the pilot polder was drained. The cost of the polder, about 1 million guilders, was relatively high, but the cost of polders to come should be lower.

Research

The Directorate of Wieringermeer
Wieringermeer
Wieringermeer is a municipality and a polder in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.- Population centres :The municipality of Wieringermeer consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Kreileroord, Middenmeer, Slootdorp, Wieringerwerf.- History :Around the year...

wanted to study the behavior of a soil recovered from the sea, and how saline soils can be cultivated. After the draining was completed a farm was built as well as laboratories for agriculture, soil science and research in microbiology. Different aspects for optimal use of land have been studied, such as desalination, drying and compacting. Experiments were also made to know the best way to cultivate and to select suitable crops. Some species can concentrate the salt and prepare future plantations.

Results

In 1929, the polder soil tests have given satisfactory results, the proof was given the polder could be cultivated. With the experience gained in the pilot, development of the polder Wieringermeer was accelerated. It has been demonstrated that reclamed soils can be used for agriculture in profitable way.
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