Thanks to Marine Insight for this:
The Netherlands is a very flat country. As such, winds can be very problematic, especially for ships.
Rozenburg Windwall, located in the Port of Rotterdam is a simple yet amazing invention.
Constructed in 1985, the Rozenburg Windwall acts as a buffer between the harsh whipping winds that slow down the shipping traffic operating on the Calandkanaal (Canal of Caland).
Although a narrow water conduit, the Canal of Caland is an important navigation route for vessels wanting to enter the harbor township of Brittaniehaven. Presently the canal is used as the primary marine passage for the transportation of car carriers and other larger ships.
The construction of the Rozenburg Windwall was carried out based on the guidelines and expertise provided by Maarten Struijs and Frans de Wit. These two professionals have been credited with coming up with innumerable displays of such constructional splendor.
Quite appealing to an observing eye, the Rozenburg Windwall has been shaped and grounded in a particular pattern. In the southern part of the Canal, the Windwall is shaped in the form of semi-circles with a height of almost 25 metres (ie: 82 feet tall).
The Windwall has been quite instrumental in restricting the wind interference by nearly 75%. This high percentage has also translated to better shipping operations in the Canal of Caland thus making the waterway and the Rozenburg Windwall quite famous across the world.
