The Zuiderzee Works is a major engineering project in the Netherlands, designed to transform the Zuiderzee, a large inland sea, into usable land. Initiated in the early 20th century, the project involved constructing a series of dikes and dams, including the famous Afsluitdijk, which closed off the sea from the North Sea. This transformation created the IJsselmeer, a large freshwater lake. The primary goal of the Zuiderzee Works was to protect the surrounding areas from flooding and to create new agricultural land. The project also led to the development of several polders, which are low-lying areas reclaimed from the sea, allowing for farming and settlement.