The inconvenient future of Scheemda

Because of the The dutch central

predicted shrinking of
the population in
Scheemda it is very
likely that there will be
an increase of empty
buildings. This can harm
the character of the
village causing more
people to potentially
leave Scheemda.
bureau for statistics
predicts that the
population of the
municipality of Oldambt,
where Scheemda is part
of will shrink by at least
5% by 2050.

It is also predicted by
the dutch central
bureau for statistics
that the percentage
of elderly people
living in the
municipality of
The hospital in Scheemda has a dyke
Oldambt will increase
around it because the local water board
to nearly 30% of the
couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be a
local population.
flood within the next 100 years.

The picture below shows what a flooded This map shows that the northern
Scheemda could look like. In contrast to the part of scheemda is at risk of
predictable shrinking and aging population flooding once in a hondred years,
the risk of flooding is and unpredictable yet while the southern part is only at
likely possibility for Scheemda in the future. risk of a flood once in a thousand
years. The only area of Scheemda
which is not at risk of flooding is the
centre which is slichtly above sea
level.
The royal dutch meteorological
institute predicts that the sea level
may rise up to 40 centimeters by
2050. This would make a flood in
the Scheemda are far more likely
than it is right now.

The changes to the population of Scheemda are very predictable, yet it’s
concequences can be very large. A smaller and older population can’t
support the same amenities in the village for an example, which could
lead to a furter degradation of the population.

The risk of flooding is far less predictable, but its consequences would be
massive. Large parts of Scheemda are at risk of flooding which would
cause extensive damage to the village.

This future scenarion for Scheemda begs the quistion what would
happen when the area did indeed flood? Would Scheemda be rebuild?
Or would the village just be repaired to serve the remaining residance
until its demise?