Dilemma over moving a dike or demolishing homes

WERKENDAM – A house literally built into the dike may have been deemed extra safe from the threat of floods at one time but 33 of them now face demolition because the structures are obstructing plans to reinforce their protective shield. With the threat of flooding now also coming from hinterland runoff water, the water boards need to raise the height of the dikes and reinforce them. The options are demolition of the homes, moving the dike or using steel walls to shore up the dike. The homes are located along the dike between the southern Dutch towns of Werkendam and Sleeuwijk.