Bridges, construction sites and new rules: In the Netherlands, 2026 will be a test for infrastructure and water sports. An overview of everything skippers need to know now.
Rijkswaterstaat, the supreme authority for hydraulic engineering and infrastructure in the Netherlands, manages 1,149 bridges, 157 of which are movable. This does not include the many municipal and provincial structures. By way of comparison, the Waterways and Shipping Administration in Germany looks after 1,300 bridges nationwide, i.e. spread over an area around ten times as large. For the Netherlands, the infrastructure is a Herculean task, as the type of crossing also plays a role.
Bridge-building fever in the Netherlands
For example, the Van Brienenoordbrug motorway is due for renewal. It carries a six-lane motorway across the Nieuwe Maas in Rotterdam and is movable. Imagine if the Elbe bridges in Hamburg were about ten times as high and mobile and had to be rebuilt. In Germany, that would probably be more of a generational project.
The year 2026 will also be characterised by infrastructure in the Netherlands. The reopening of the Staande Mastroute is on the back burner, in Friesland the plans for the new bridges over the Prinses-Margriet Canal are taking shape and Amsterdam is still discussing the bridge(s) over the IJ. So 2026 could be quite an exciting season.
Speaking of exciting: the topic of toilet sealing, i.e. the permanent and monitored sealing of the faeces outlet, which has been the subject of intense discussion for several years, is still with us, although there is still no decision or even a definite date for when it will be introduced. What has changed are two things: firstly, the first authorised purification systems are now on the market (their absence was one of the reasons why they were recently postponed), and secondly, the D66 party is now leading the government. At the time, the legislative initiative for sealing came from its ranks. It could therefore be that there will soon be movement on the issue. However, if this does not happen now, it will probably disappear from the agenda forever. We will see and report.
All innovations, changes and disabilities at a glance:
Texel
The new Vessel Traffic Service area "Off Texel" in the North Sea has been officially in operation since the beginning of November. This has introduced active monitoring of traffic on the northern and southern shipping routes above the West Frisian Islands. The traffic separation scheme is located north-west of Texel and is monitored by radar. Anyone wishing to use it must register on VHF channel 63.
Name change
The term LAT for the Lowest Astronomical Tide is renamed ALAT (Average Lowest Astronomical Tide). The change indicates that LAT also includes statistical smoothing over 18 years. Nothing changes in the calculation, ALAT = LAT. Only the name becomes a little more precise.
Sneekermeer
The Boot Holland trade fair is no longer taking place. The small trade fair in the spring in the Frisian capital Leeuwarden did not attract enough exhibitors to be economically viable. One indoor trade fair less, one inwater trade fair more: Sneek-in-water will take place on 23 and 24 May. The fair will be organised on the Starteiland in the Sneekermeer. More information at: sneekinwater.nl
Grou
The cult pub "Bierhalle", whose demise we reported in last year's Revierupdate, has found a new tenant and will now continue to operate after all. bierhalle.nl
Marrekrite
The popular Watersport app has now also integrated all Marrekrite sites. For example, you can have the app plan a route directly to your favourite jetty.
For Android: Googleplaystore For IOS: App Store
Brug Oude Schouw/Brug Spannenburg
The two bridges over the Prinses-Margriet Canal are just as old as those in Uitwellingerga (below), but are still functional. They are also due to be renewed from around 2030. Local residents and water sports enthusiasts are involved in the ongoing planning.
Brug Uitwellingerga
A new movable bridge is to be built between 2029 and 2031. In 2025, the movable centre section was removed and a temporary fixed bridge was built. Sailors over 7.10 metres will therefore still have to take a diversion through Sneek.
Sneek
The diversion of the yachts makes Sneek quite crowded. That's why stewards accompany the traffic through the town in bright orange boats. They coordinate who is allowed to sail and when. There are no stewards in the even narrower IJlst.
Monopoly Friesland Edition
The popular board game is now also available as an Elfsteden version, i.e. with reference to the famous ice skating race. The board features the names of towns and places in Friesland. A kind of Friesland holiday for in between. For 59.95 euros from: shopfriesland.nl
