Easter is also the start of the water sports season for many crews and owners in the Netherlands, and the crowds can be correspondingly large. Anyone wanting to sail from the Wadden Sea to the IJsselmeer or vice versa during this time is currently unable to get through on the north-east side of the Afsluitdijk. The 83-year-old lock at Kornwerderzand is in urgent need of renovation and will be completely closed for six weeks from 21 March to 1 May.
Crews considering the alternative route via the Leeuwarden and Harlingen diversions should be warned that this route is also currently blocked, as work on a new aqueduct in Leeuwarden is blocking the route near the Van Harinxma Canal. This leaves only the 18 nautical mile diversions to the west to the lock in Den Oever. There you have to expect more crowds and longer waiting times.
Work is also planned in Den Oever, which will lead to a closure in the autumn: This lock will be closed from 5 September to 16 October. More information: www.vaarweginformatie.nl
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
