Ijmuiden lock: expensive fun
In January 2022, the Ijmuiden lock went into operation in the presence of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander. At 500 meters long, 70 meters wide and 18 meters deep, it is the largest sea lock in the world. But it comes at a price: not only did it cost twice as much as planned, it now also threatens to salinize the local fresh water. Read all about the project here.
The world’s largest lock was opened in Amsterdam on January 26, 2022. The Ijmuiden Lock is 500 meters long, 70 meters wide and 18 meters deep. The XXL project is an eye-catcher that attracts numerous onlookers every day. Even the Dutch King Willem-Alexander did not miss the opening ceremony. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony was only held on a small scale.
The Ijmuiden sea lock or “Zeesluis” is located in Amsterdam’s North Sea Canal. It is used to allow large freighters to pass through even at low tide by raising and lowering the ships. Work on the megaproject, which should have been completed in 2019, began back in 2016.
In addition to more activity at the port, the local council also hoped to increase tourism. However, the question arises as to whether this is even necessary in Amsterdam. The city is already struggling with the phenomenon of “overtourism”. In some respects, a new megaproject is more of a burden than an asset.
The Zeesluis Ijmuiden is undoubtedly very impressive. The Netherlands now holds the coveted title of “largest lock in the world”, which had long been held by the Belgian Kieldrecht lock near Antwerp.
However, this record was very expensive fun. The costs for the lock in Amsterdam were 210 million euros higher than expected. This is partly due to the two-year delay in construction. This caused a lot of damage to the construction consortium. The city council of Amsterdam has to bear 64 million euros of the additional costs – more than double the city’s originally planned budget.
Nevertheless, the construction consortium OpenIJ, which built the Ijmuiden lock on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, hopes to make a profit. The largest lock in the world replaces the Noordersluis, which is now too old and too small. As large cargo ships can now also pass through the lock, the port of Amsterdam will be connected to three new corridors for even the largest container and cruise ships.
Risk of salinization: seawater with every lock opening
In addition to the high costs, there is another criticism of the Ijmuiden lock. This is because the lock gate brings more seawater into the North Sea Canal with every opening, almost twice as much as the old lock. That’s around ten million kilos of salt each time.
Traditionally, this canal consists of a mixture of salt and fresh water. Now a tongue of salt is forming at the bottom of the canal, which is pushing further and further forward. The increasing salinization of the water could be dangerous, according to Jan Rienstra, division manager at the Dutch Roads and Waterways Authority: “If the inflow of salt water increases, it could also end up in the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal,” he told the science magazine Quest.
The water from the North Sea Canal is used to produce drinking water. Many farmers also use the water to irrigate their fields. This makes it all the more important to stop the salinization of the canal. A dam that holds back fresh water and allows salt water to flow out is already under construction. However, it is not due to be completed until 2024 at the earliest, while the new lock is ready for operation.
Largest lock in the world, but only limited use
Due to the risk of salinization, the Ijmuiden lock can only be used to a limited extent. Although it is technically fully functional and was already tested with ships in summer 2021, the saltwater pump-back system will not be ready for at least two years.
Nevertheless, local residents are happy that the construction of the mega project is now complete. The past six years have brought a lot of noise and unrest. And as long as no large ships sail through the world’s largest lock, the Zeesluis can be expected to remain quiet for the time being.
Another problem: overtourism in Amsterdam
The Ijmuiden lock attracted a lot of criticism even before it opened. Not only the high costs and the risk of salinization, but also the threat of an onslaught of tourists has led to many unanswered questions.
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the number of overnight stays in Amsterdam rose by four million between 2016 and 2019 to a total of over 18 million per year. Countless complaints about loud, drunken tourists behaving disrespectfully are already a daily occurrence in Amsterdam.
The pressure on the city’s tourism industry is therefore already high. Additional cruise ships, which could come to Amsterdam thanks to the world’s largest lock, are met with disapproval. After all, cruise passengers are additional guests visiting Amsterdam for a short time.
Not to mention the recent closure of a large container terminal in the port of Amsterdam. This, combined with the drop in cruise interest due to the coronavirus pandemic, raises the question of whether the Ijmuiden lock is necessary at all.
However, one group is pleased about the mega project: cyclists can cross the lock gates on a new cycle route and thus reach the other bank of the canal much faster than they used to by ferry.
Sources and further information:
BR: Amsterdam: Largest sea lock in the world opens
SZ: Amsterdam opens the largest lock in the world
Rijkswaterstaat: Construction of the world’s largest sea lock in IJmuiden
Responsible Travel: Overtourism in Amsterdam
Also interesting: Overtourism or not – Amsterdam is also worth a visit. Find outwhat highlights the city has to offer– apart from the world’s largest sea lock – here: Amsterdam.