In 1916, a huge storm in the North Sea coincided with high flows in several rivers, flooding the Zuiderzee, a large, shallow bay between North Holland and Friesland. In the winter of 1953, an enormous storm in the North Sea raised a major storm surge, crashing into the delta, causing floodwaters to overwhelm much of the already existing and extensive flood control structures of the Netherlands. So, an incredibly intricate plan called the Deltawerken or Delta Works was put into motion to effectively shorten the coastline with a series of 14 major engineering projects, including dams, dikes, locks, sluices, and more.