This week's programme in the series on Man and Science Today.

Tonight's film was shot entirely in Holland. Its title is the translation of a Dutch proverb, for since 500 BC the Dutch have been forced to get down to inventing ingenious methods to keep out the sea.

Today seven million Dutchmen live below sea level and their safety lies in the hands of their engineers. With sea dams, they are sealing off 435 miles of coast-line in the Rhine estuary and turning the area into freshwater lakes. In addition they are using their skill to expand the port of Rotterdam - already the largest in the world - further into the North Sea by creating artificial land and deep water anchorages. Can Britain take a leaf out of the Dutch book and get down to building a similar modern port - or will we continue to use up valuable time with enquiries?