Tide in the Attic

Introduction

First published in its original Dutch version in 1953, this is the English translation of Een helicopter daalde, which tells the story of a family in the Netherlands caught up in the middle of the 1953 North Sea flood disaster, brought on by a heavy storm that occurred on the night of Saturday, 31 January 1953 and morning of Sunday, 1 February 1953. The floods struck the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Scotland.

The Flood

A combination of a high spring tide and a severe European windstorm over the North Sea caused a storm tide; the combination of wind, high tide, and low pressure led to a water level of more than 5.6 metres (18.4 ft) above mean sea level in some locations. The flood and waves overwhelmed sea defences and caused extensive flooding. The Netherlands, a country with 20% of its territory below mean sea level and 50% less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) above sea level and which relies heavily on sea defences, was worst affected, recording 1,836 deaths and widespread property damage. Most of the casualties occurred in the southern province of Zeeland.

Target Audience

Although this book is classed as a children’s novel, it will appeal to readers from eight to eighty years old.