Bart Schultz
There are many different types of dikes. Distinctions can be made, for example, based on the function of the dike, the material from which it is constructed, and the location of the dike. For instance, the handy booklet Polderlands – Glossarium van waterstaattermen (in Dutch) contains no fewer than fifty-five names for dikes, with variations on several of these names. The most notable example is the word dwarsdijk, which stands for a water barrier perpendicular to the direction of the flow, to divert water from higher grounds. The booklet lists eight variants of this type of dike, namely: delingsdijk, stouwedijk, stuurdijk, wendeldijk, zijdeldijk, zijdwendige dijk, zouwe, and zuidwende.
A close second is the word binnendijk – a dike without a water-retaining function – with variants such as achterdijk, droge dijk, indijk, mallendijk, and mieldijk.
Although names can also have different meanings, one of the meanings is usually clearly evident in the name. Just think of river dike and sea dike. These dikes are clearly situated along a river or by the sea, but naturally also and primarily have a water-retaining function. With river dikes, a distinction can be made between winter dike and summer dike. A winter dike is the dike that protects the hinterland against high river water both in summer and winter. Summer dikes protect the hinterland up to the winter dike only against high summer water levels. A sea dike is also called a flood dike or watch dike.
If we look at the function of the dike, most names come to the fore. A bandijk is a dike that borders the winter bed of a river. Buitendijken, uiterdijken, oeterdijken and uitdijken protect the hinterland against external water. A buitenringdijk does this for a number of areas. A Delta dike protects the hinterland at the level prescribed in the Delta Act.
A dijkring or omringdijk refers to the entirety of main water defences surrounding a polder or an area. A halsdijk or verkortingsdijk is a straight dike between protruding land points that replaces the inland sea dike. A schaardijk, schoordijk or schuurdijk is a river dike situated along a river without foreland. A schenkeldijk, schinkeldijk, or opdijk is a dike that connects two other dikes. A slachtedijk is a secondary dike. A stuifdijk is a sand dike constructed to enlarge existing dune formations or shift the dune foot.
Regarding the material from which the dike is constructed, there are, for example, the following names: aardendijk, asfaltdijk, grasdijk, palendijk, stenendijk, trapdijk, veendijk, and zanddijk. However, if we look a little further, there can be various functions under the name. For instance, a peat dike can be constructed from peat, but it can also be a dike through the peat, or a dike that holds back water from the peat.
Variants of this type of name include: baardijk or heemdijk, palendijk, pakdijk, platendijk, schermdijk, or wierdijk. These are dikes with, respectively, a foreland protected by piles, by a stacking of brushwood bundles, by revetment with plates or thick planks, by a seepage screen or sheet pile wall, or by a stacking of seagrass.
The location of the dike is clearly reflected in the following names: oudelandsdijk, overdijk, rivierdijk, vaartdijk, zeedijk, and zoutedijk. The latter protects the land behind it against saline external water. The uitlaagdijk or leggendijk also falls into this group, as these are dikes relocated outwards.
The method of construction can also be indicated in the name, as is the case with aanleundijk, plempdijk, and velddijk. The first is a dike constructed behind a smaller dike that had already been built, which subsequently functions as the outer toe. The second is a dike raised in the water. The last is a section of a dike that consists entirely of earth.
The name can also refer to the maintenance obligation, as with evendijk and hevendijk. These are dikes where maintenance is determined by equalization.
Then there are several dikes with a unique function, such as an aanzetdijk constructed between a fixed bank and a channel to be closed later. A hemdijk connects a slaperdijk with a wakerdijk. An overflow dike is a section of a dike that serves as an overflow. A sasdijk or sluisdijk is situated between the gates or gate sets at a green sluice chamber.
Finally, there are dikes that have lost their function, such as the dromerdijk and the slaperdijk. In a sense, the versedijk must also be mentioned here, as this is a dike that no longer holds back saltwater due to pre-diking.
