These and many other questions were the subject of an excursion, offered to you by ESN Groningen and the International School of Spatial Policy Studies of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen on Saturday, March 8th 2008. The tour was guided by Paul van Steen, staff member of Spatial Sciences. The plan included visiting  Zoutkamp: once a coastal town; Lauwersoog: a new town in the 'new' Lauwers-lake; Monument Afsluitdijk: a 75-years old dam, strategic shortening of coastline; Den Oever on former Wieringen island; Volendam: pittoresque tourist harbour; Flevoland: reclaimed parts of former Zuyder Sea, now booming economy; Urk: former fishing island economy.  The long day, full of new impressions ended with a nice dinner in Lemmer.