THE history of water management in the Netherlands is remarkable for the technological feats down the ages, till as late as the '90s. But there is another story that geography books always ignored.

Through the ages, as the Dutch literally carved land out of water, they also developed local social institutions and a sense of broader allegiance that focused directly on an assignment that the whole country shared. The assignment was not simply to reclaim and colonise wherever possible, but also to keep incoming tides at bay. In this sense, this assignment has been a constant preoccupation with the Dutch.

The story that began with the early settlers slowly recovering land from a marshy terrain has come a long way. Now, there is even talk of giving in on some of the land areas in order to remedy problems created by ceaseless reclamation, such as the drop in the groundwater levels and damage to marine fauna.

It is quite obvious that the history of water management in the Netherlands makes an unusual case of a massive and unceasing intervention in nature. Perhaps this is why the Dutch showed an unusual amount of social reflexibility when taking care of their national assignment at every stage and resolving foreseen and unforeseen fallouts and conflicts. All this required tremendous technical finesse. But even more notable may be the high level of social cohesion reflected in this tale of sheer courage.

Through the centuries, the water management system in the Netherlands was characterised by its small scale and the tendency to conserve permanent achievements made in the past. The result is that parts of the country, especially the lower regions of the Netherlands, are virtually chunks of hydraulic works on display. The Dutch people were not averse to large-scale projects, but local conditions, needs and opinion were always given due place.

The long, historical process of dyke-building, the constant pushing out of water, had an unintended result: further flooding across the land. This had a vicious logic. When the floods came in, they were worse than the earlier one each time. Also, protecting one area often meant making an adjacent area vulnerable. The constant pushing of the waters had other negative consequences. According to one calculation, the groundwater level dropped by 2 to 3 metres in a couple of centuries.

The technological history of the water system makes it clear that with literally thousands of small and medium-sized hydraulic interventions, the Dutch society could not have relied on a centralised regime of water-management. The local element has traditionally played its role through the water boards, with their varied roles, kept a tight leash on the provincial and central governments. Increasingly, the role of the water boards has been formalised and extended far beyond the questions of water.

The people, the government at its different levels, and the engineers and scientists in the Netherlands of today are not simply concerned with winning more land or simply keeping the floods away.

They now face the task of evolving an ecology which is sustainable. What definitely helps them in their efforts is a past that is rich in positive, popular debate and participation. This may be the moral that other nations ought to draw from this tale of skill and perseverance.