Knights & Counts is the fourth episode of The Story of the Netherlands in which the coastal region is constantly plagued by floods. The Zuiderzee emerges and North Holland is permanently separated from Friesland. Water management remains largely uncoordinated, since West Frisians are constantly at odds with neighbouring Holland. Count William II starts building dikes, but he perishes on a military campaign against the Frisians. Much later, his work is continued by his son Floris V, who decisively defeats their mortal enemies and forcibly subjugates disobedient nobles. In doing so he becomes immensely popular with the people, but equally hated by the nobles. And that costs him his life.