But it was not until a furious hurricane in November 1836 drove the waters as far as the gates of Amsterdam, and another on Christmas Day sent them in the opposite direction to submerge the streets of Leiden, that the mind of the nation was seriously turned to the matter.
Det var dog ikke før en voldsom orkan i november 1836 drev vandet så langt som til Amsterdams porte og en anden på juledag drev vandet i den anden retning og oversvømmede gaderne i Leiden, at nationens opmærksomhed for alvor blev vendt mod sagen.