What is the toe of a dike?
The toe is the bottom edge of a dike or embankment: the line where the sloping dike body meets the surrounding ground. A dike has an inner toe (landward side) and an outer toe (water side). The highest part is called the crest. Along shorelines, the toe also refers to the transition between a hard stone revetment and the soft bed. In Dutch it is called the teen.
Why the toe matters
The toe contributes to the stability of the entire dike body. If soil is dug away at the toe, the slope can slide. On the landward side, the toe is also where seepage and piping (water flowing beneath the dike and carrying sand with it) become visible. During high water, dike inspectors therefore pay close attention to the inner toe.
Toe protection
On the water side, the toe is protected against waves and currents with toe protection, such as rock armour, concrete blocks or asphalt-grouted rubble. It prevents scour and acts as a support for the revetment on the slope above.
Rules for building and digging near the toe
Dikes are surrounded by protection zones set by the responsible water authority. In the Netherlands these are laid down in the water board’s by-laws. Digging, ploughing, building or placing heavy objects near the toe is usually prohibited without a permit. The width of these zones varies by authority and by dike.
Tips:
- Planning to build, place a shed or dig a garden near a dike? Check the rules of the water authority first.
- See wet patches or water bubbling up with sand at the inner toe during high water? Report it immediately to the water authority.
Related terms
- Embankment slope
- Natural slope
- Dike monitoring
- Emergency dike
- Piping
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