Over the course of centuries several means were deployed to drain and protect the land. They are all still used today, but in an improved form. In chronological order, the following means are used in the Netherlands:

Drainage ditches/channels (BCE)
Quays/dykes/mounds (BCE)
Discharge sluices (from the beginning of the Christian era)
Drainage mills (as from ca. 1400)
High boezems (reservoirs) (as from ca. 1600)
(Steam-driven) pumping stations (as from ca. 1800)
Drainage (as from ca. 1900)

(The dating is very rough and relates to our region, i.e. ' the Low Countries ')