17. Spaarndammer Dike - Halfweg

The Spaarndammer Dike formed the northern boundary of the Rijnland area for centuries and protected the land against the water of the IJ. Maintenance was carried out in a medieval way, with the landowners who lived along the dike being responsible for it. This system was used until the end of the 16th century. The dike, however, had to be made higher and stronger due to land subsidence and rising water levels in the IJ, which made it increasingly difficult for the landowners to maintain it properly. Dike breaches therefore occurred regularly.

In 1593 the Spaarndammer Dike came entirely under the management of Rijnland. Since 1675 the dike has not breached again. It lost its water retaining function due to the construction of the Noordzeekanaal, which caused the dike to lie in the middle of the land. Some sections still served as water defences along the side canals. As a result of the Water Defence Act in 1996, the Spaarndammer Dike once again became a primary water defence.