This story, headlined "Beating back the sea," was originally published Nov. 13, 2005. It is being republished for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as part of The Times-Picayune's Pulitzer-winning coverage.

TER HEIJDE, NETHERLANDS — The North Sea's furious winters can kick up storm surges more than 13 feet high — a lethal threat to a country where millions live below sea level, some as much as 22 feet down. And the Dutch have devised a peerless system of flood defenses — one of the world's engineering marvels — to keep that water out.

Giant barriers straddle ocean inlets, their gates poised to slam shut to repel the invading sea. Massive earthen dams run for miles, blocking off vast areas once open to the North Sea, now converted to freshwater lakes and new living space.

Those a

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