It should be noted that this only concerns the times when it has already been possible to request the opening of bridges and locks, but these are outside the usual operating hours. Extended opening periods are therefore not the aim. However, the aim is to make it easier to request a passage during off-peak times. Up to now, there have been several ways to do this, telephone numbers, apps, you name it. This is now set to change. One portal, request there. And that's it.
The portal is well known, it's about the website vaarweginformatie.nl which already compiles all the information that is important for the smooth passage of bridges and locks. Since 1 November, the site has been expanded to include the request opening function. Clicking on it takes you to the actual page of Rijkswaterstaat, the administration of all transport routes in the Netherlands. It is called beterbediend.rws.nl.
A form will then open in which you can enter details of the ship and the structure you wish to open. You will then be informed when the opening will take place, because if there are several requests with similar dates, they will be combined if possible. In the current test phase, 18 bridges are offered in the selection menu. This number is set to increase significantly in the future.
