The largest and most elaborate flood defenses can be found in the Netherlands , where they are referred to as Delta Works with the Oosterschelde dam as its crowning achievement . These works were built in response to the North Sea flood of 1953 , in the southwestern part of the Netherlands . The Dutch had already built one of the world 's largest dams in the north of the country . The Afsluitdijk closing occurred in 1932
North Sea flood of 1953
North Sea flood of 1953
Flood control