Water level gauge house at the harbour - Den Oever

The construction of the Zuiderzee Works brought major changes. Not only on land, but especially at sea. Currents and waterways shifted. Not all of these changes could be predicted with any degree of accuracy. It was therefore very important to keep a close eye on the water levels.

To this end, measuring devices were used, which were housed in so-called gauge houses. A characteristic feature of these houses is the gauge itself: a vertical bar or plate with measurements in centimetres or decimetres, which is in direct contact with the water.

The water level gauge houses on Wieringen are characteristic remnants of the construction of the Zuiderzee Works. They are historical monuments that illustrate the development of hydraulic engineering and water management in the Netherlands. They tell the story of the MUZ (Ministry for the Zuiderzee Works), the innovations and the challenges faced by the builders of the dykes.

Two of these water level gauge houses can be seen on Wieringen. One of the houses is located at the harbour of Den Oever. This monument clearly shows the importance of closely monitoring water levels. As a result of necessary dyke elevations, the plinth of the building has now sunk into the dyke.

The other water level gauge house is located on Quarantaineweg in Westerland. The building is cherished by both Wieringers and tourists. To illustrate this, it is the most photographed monument in the municipality.

Photo: ©Kenneth Stamp, Municipality of Hollands Kroon