According to the Dutch waterway authority Rijkswaterstaat, the work on the two locks at Grevelingen and Zandkreek will last from Monday, 7 April at 7 am to Tuesday, 15 April at 11:59 pm and will be used for routine maintenance and upkeep work.
There will be no operation during this time. In the event of unfavourable external influences, the duration of the closure may be changed or extended. The relevant messages can be found on the official website Vaarweginformatie.nl of the Rijkswaterstaat.
Closure of the Grevelingen lock
The Grevelingen lock is the only one in the Grevelingendam and is almost sixty years old. A comprehensive renovation is planned for 2027. The Grevelingendam itself is six kilometres long and part of the Delta Works, which protect the south of the Netherlands from storm surges. It connects the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Goeree-Overflakkee.
The Grevelingen lock is the only access to the waterway of the same name. The Grevelingen (or Grevelingenmeer) is a former arm of the Rhine-Meuse delta. It is now closed off from the North Sea to the west by the Brouwersdam, creating a protected area that is popular with sport skippers.
Closure of the Zandkreek lock
During the same period as at Grevelingen, the Zandkreek lock further south will also be closed. It is also part of the Delta Works: the Zandkreek Dam seals off the Veerse Meer between the islands of Noord- and Zuid-Beveland on the inside. However, there is another access to the Veerse Meer, the Kanaal door Walcheren. It leads to Vlissigen on the Westerschelde. However, this route means a considerable diversions, especially for skippers coming from the north.
The closure of the Zandkreek lock is necessary because a road bridge over the chamber has to be replaced. At the same time, repair work is being carried out on the eastern lock head.
The Delta Works: Protection against storm surges
Built between 1958 and 1997, the Delta Works now protect the Dutch province of Zeeland and parts of Zuid-Holland and Noord-Brabant from flooding and storm surges. The system comprises several strategically placed structures along the coastlines, with some dams, such as the Oosterschelde Barrage, being designed to be flexible so that they can only be closed in the event of real danger.
Other dams, such as the Brouwersdam at Grevelingen, were subsequently adapted to correct ecological imbalances, such as the installation of the Brouwerssluis to regulate the salinity of the water.
The flood disaster of 1953, in which almost 2000 people died in the Rhine-Meuse Delta, was the decisive factor in the construction of the Delta Works. This catastrophe led to the decision to develop a comprehensive protection system to mitigate future flood events. Today, the Delta Works are recognised as an important example of Dutch engineering in the field of hydraulic engineering and are regarded internationally as a model for coastal protection.
