Markerwaard

The Markerwaard is visible on Lely's plan

The Markerwaard is the name of a polder in the IJsselmeer that was never built and would result as the total or partial reclamation of the Markermeer. Cornelis Lely's plan projected a polder in the south-west of the Zuiderzee, originally named simply 'Southwest Polder' and finally Markerwaard Polder, named after the island of Marken. The Markerwaard would have had an area of ​​410 km².

Reclamation of the other three polders took place first, however preparations for the Markerwaard were made while draining of the northeast and southeast polders (today's Flevoland) were underway. In 1957, the island of Marken was connected to continental Holland. In 1976 the dam Houtribdijk connecting Enkhuizen and Lelystad was completed, so the draining of the Markerwaard could begin. A second airport for Amsterdam was planned for the new polder, to relieve Schiphol Airport. However, neither the reclamation nor the airport construction was ever begun.

In the 1980s, the project was revised down leaving a lake between the polder and North Holland. Marken would remain a peninsula, unlike on the original project.

The debate on the decision took more than a decade. The questions concerned the need for other agricultural areas in this region and the need for new subdivisions. The ecology and value of the lake as a recreation area were considered stronger than the potential benefits of the polder. Doubts about the profitability have weighed heavy. In case of drought this lake is very useful for the production of drinking water. On the contrary in heavy weather it is used as buffer zone.

In 2003, after long discussions, it was decided not to build this polder.

In 1941 the first dam for this project was built, but the German occupation stopped the work. Later, it was decided that the Flevoland should have priority. Without this decision it is likely that the Markerwaard today would exist.