Origins and early development Water board (Netherlands)

1654 painting cesar van everdingen , pieter post, depicting william ii of holland granting privileges in 1255 spaarndam dijkgraaf , hoogheemraden, organisation evolve hoogheemraadschap van rijnland

this method of controlling water emerged unpredictable water tamed , land drained agriculture. first dikes , water control structures built , maintained directly benefiting them, farmers. structures got more extensive , complex, councils formed people common interest in control of water levels of land. first water boards formed in 13th century. these controlled small area, single polder or dike.

as these boards became better organised, counts of holland began granting charters boards. granted right make own bylaws. ever-present threat of loss of life , land required short lines of communication between authorities , residents maintained infrastructure. threat of flooding in heerlijkheid best dealt local authorities, water boards chaired local nobility.

local water boards set maintain integrity of water defences around local polders, maintain waterways inside polders , control various water levels in , outside local polders. mandate of these water boards (which remains largely unchanged) maintenance of dikes, dunes , waterways (and roads too, in several municipalities), control of water level , quality of surface water (including punishing polluters). original water boards varied in organisation, power , area managed. differences dictated different circumstances, whether had defend sea dike against storm surge or keep water level in polder within bounds. hoogheemraadschappen responsible protecting land against sea , regulating water levels of various canals , lakes water pumped polders , waterschappen.

dikes maintained individuals benefited existence, every farmer designated part of dike maintain, review every 3 years water board directors. old rule whom water harms stops water (dutch: wie het water deert, die het water keert). meant living @ dike had pay , care it. people go bankrupt having repair breached dike. living further inland refused pay or assist upkeep of dikes, though affected floods. system led haphazard maintenance , believed many floods prevented or mitigated if dikes had been in better condition.

punishments meted out water boards fines misdemeanors such emptying waste in nearest canal; however, according various historical documents, death penalty used more once serious offenders threatened dike safety or water quality.