Wetlands in the Netherlands

I was born between two rivers: the Maas and the Waal. The area between these rivers is shaped like a bathtub, so you can imagine what happens when the water breaks through the surrounding dikes. Wetlands. The water has always been a friend and an enemy for this area. A friend, because of the fertile soil that is very beneficial for the farmers. A friend, because of the enormous amounts of clay that helped grow and thrive a brick industry on the river banks. But also an enemy, because the water could destroy every house in the area.