Barge Skipper
In this insightful interview, Tido, a water worker and skipper in Amsterdam shares his experiences in maintaining and cleaning the city’s iconic canals. He discusses the significance of the canals in protecting the city from flooding and talks about the various debris they encounter, including plastic, tires, and even cars. Tido emphasises the importance of their work in keeping the canals safe and navigable. The interview also touches on childhood memories, dreams, and legends related to water. Tido’s story offers a unique perspective on the hidden but crucial role of water workers in preserving the beauty and functionality of Amsterdam’s waterways.
Project leader, Environment Management
Discovering Environmental Stewardship: In a recent interview, we explored the world’s largest sea lock project with Jan Rinstra, an esteemed environmental manager. Jan’s primary role revolves around water management, emphasising eco-conscious policies. Throughout the discussion, we learn about the IJmuiden Sea Lock’s significance in promoting sustainable practices and its vital function in enhancing water resources, countering the effects of climate change, and facilitating maritime traffic with its impressive engineering.
Geosciences Professor
(en) Dr. Kim Cohen, Geosciences professor at the University of Utrecht, joins us this session to discuss shifting coastlines, mapping sea-level rises, and what we can do to mitigate the effects of extreme coastal changes.
Historian and City Guide
The chairman of De Amsterdam Cultuur-Historische Vereniging. This society aims to share knowledge about the history of Amsterdam. He is a city guide, and during our talk, he tells us about Amsterdam, het IJ, Noordzeekanaal and Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal coming into being. Did you know the harbour in this city moved from east to west? You will hear all about it in our talk with Aaldrik.
Teamleader brug-en Sluiswachten
As a little Amsterdam boy, Stefan climbed opened bridges to annoy the bridge keepers, not knowing he would become a bridge and lock keeper himself. For 15 years, Stefan has worked as a bridge and lock keeper. He shares his love for the profession.
Ferry Skipper
This is an interview with Uljan, a skipper with GVB Ferries. Uljan, who came to the interview dressed in full uniform, told the School of Winds and Waves about his daily routine at work, secrets that deep waters conceal, and an office with the best view in Amsterdam.
Informed Layman
With Ingrid, we spoke about the basics of water management in Amsterdam. She explains some terminology we will hear more often during these water talks. The talk is about love for and fear of water and the pros and cons of living in a delta.
Hydrologist
Being a Hydrologist, Maartje works at Waternet as a senior project manager and consultant. She knows all about the importance of securing the right water levels in the city and how to regulate them. When too much water is in the city, it needs to be pumped out. This happens at IJmuiden, where excessive water gets pumped into the sea. At times of drought on the other hand, large amounts of water are being pumped into Amsterdam from the IJsselmeer. How to regulate this well? Maartje Faasse tells us about her work.
Former Harbour Master
Cor is a retired sailor, salvage expert, and harbour master of the port of Amsterdam and harbour master of the North Sea Canal. In this interview, Cor tells us how Amsterdam as a port is connects to the world, to the world’s oceans on one side, and the °hinterland° (Germany and beyond) on the other.
Cor helps us understand the practicalities and usefulness of the North Sea Canal and the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal for the city of Amsterdam and its surroundings.
Expedition Curator
A closing interview of our Terschelling edition. How to facilitate ecology-sensitive artmaking and art consumption? What are the challenges and various forces at play for degrowth?
Amateur Historian
Remko Pals works at the Cultural Historical Association on Terschelling. He tells us all about the history of the island and the influence of man on the island. Water sample: ground water Tool: well bucket.
Spokesperson
How to communicate water? An inteview with Jessica Winkelhorst, a spokesperson of Vitens.
Water sample: tap water.
Sewage Treatment Operator
Jacqueline Hek is a water treatment operator, she manages the sewage treatment plant on Terschelling. Jacqueline takes us through the process of purifying sewage water into water that is clean enough to enter the sea. She talks about her finds in the sewage treatment plant, what has she learned about humanity? Water sample: sewage samples before treatment.
Process Operator
Hessel Rozenga has a lot of power on Terschelling. He is responsible for all drinking water on the island. From checking the drinking water installation and the pipe from the mainland to Terschelling, to repairs at people’s homes. Hessel explains how water is purified into drinking water. He himself does not drink purified water, but directly from the ground. So why do people still want purified water? And could we also purify sewage water into drinking water?
Water sample: tap water Tool: plumbing fitting.
Salt Agriculture and Chef
Flang Cupido is a pioneer in saline agriculture on Terschelling. As the groundwater becomes saltier, normal agriculture can produce less and less good food. Saline agriculture is a solution. The Zilte Smaak is a practical case of how you can grow fruit and vegetables in soil that is becoming saltier. It’s also still very tasty. To compensate for the salty soil, fruit becomes much sweeter. What are the things we will eat in a saltier future?
Water sample: 2/3 salt and 1/3 sweet sourcewater
Field Worker
Jan van der Bij is a forester at the Staatsbosbheer on West-Terschelling. He tells everything about the management of waterways, the recently completed water splendor project and what exactly seepage water is. Water sample: seepage water.
Trainee
Joke recently completed a thesis looking at the impacts of salinization on the farming culture of Terschelling. Jokes research paid particular attention to the farmers themselves and their affinities. We spoke about her findings and her current work as a trainee with the Dutch Water authorities. Water sample: tapwater from Noordwij Tool: a deck of sustainability cards.
Infrastructure Engineer
With Ward we spoke about the flow of water, electricity and internet in large scale festival set-up. Water sample: festival toilet flushing water Tool: Plumbing coupler.
2nd Deputy Major
With the second deputy major on Terschelling we had a conversation about various facets of water policy. It was striking how “listening” in this interview became a bridging theme between art and policymaking. Water sample: tap water from Gemeente Tool: iPad.
Cattle Farmer
We interviewed Gerard at our pop up radio station in Hoorn forest.
We spoke about how much water a cow drinks on a hot day, about intergenerational labour on the farm and Gerard’s progress in saline agriculture. Water sample: ground water from the farm Tool: trench shovel.
Professor of Climate and Water
We spoke to Pier Vellinga, Professor of Climate and Water, about the impacts of salinization on agriculture at large and on the island of Terschelling. Pier leant us his knowledge when thinking about the future of crops and farming once water supplies become saltier.
Swimming Pool Supervisor
Simone Verlaan came to Terschelling to study at the Willem Barentz Maritime Institute in order to sail the sea. In addition to her studies, she became a lifeguard at Terschelling’s swimming pool. She tells about a pool that is never emptied, but that is cleaned 24/7 and about the taste of drinking water on West Terschelling.
Water sample: Swimming pool water from the pipe for testing water
Tool: Thermometer
Senior Scientist
To what extent is the Dutch drinking water clean and safe to drink? And when is it clean enough? These and more questions will be answered by Roberta Hofmann. Hofmann is a senior scientist at KWR Water Research Institute. Her specialties are drinking water and wastewater treatment. The KWR tries to bridge science to practice in order to build the knowledge needed to address complex water challenges. We spoke with Roberta about the undesirable substances in the Dutch drinking water and what the processes are to remove them.
In hoeverre is het Nederlandse drinkwater schoon en drinkbaar? En wanneer is het schoon genoeg? Deze en meer vragen worden beantwoord door Roberta Hofmann. Hofmann is senior wetenschapper bij KWR Water Research Institute. Haar specialiteiten zijn drinkwater- en afvalwaterzuivering. De KWR probeert een brug te slaan tussen wetenschap en praktijk om de kennis op te bouwen die nodig is om complexe wateropgaven aan te pakken. We spraken met Roberta over de ongewenste stoffen in het Nederlandse drinkwater en wat de processen zijn om deze te verwijderen.
District and Dijk Manager
Rayon manager and dike keeper Albert Kiers, works for Wetterskp Fryslân. He tells us about the inner and outer dike area on Terschelling. The island is slightly tilted: part is above sea level and part is below. Kiers is constantly looking for the right water level for the whole area. A broadcast with a map, a salt meter and meticulous notes in an oldfashioned noteboook.
Rayonbeheerder en dijkwachter Albert Kiers, werkzaam voor Wetterskp Fryslân vertelt over het binnen- en buitendijks gebied op Terschelling. Het eiland ligt een beetje gekanteld: een deel ligt boven NAP en een deel eronder. Kiers zoekt voortdurend naar de juiste waterstand voor het hele gebied. Een uitzending met een kaart, zoutmeter en een succesagenda.
Water sample: ground water
Tool: conductivity meter
Forest Ranger
In daily life, forester Joeri Lamers informs residents of Terschelling about the work the Forestry Commission does to protect nature. In our studio he tells us about the origins of the Hoorn forest and the connection between dunes and fresh water.
Water sample: ground water from the forest
Tool: binoculars