paroolSep 1, 2026, 08:54

Royal Inland Shipping Netherlands: Rijkswaterstaat postpones night closure of Amsterdam-Rhine Canal by two days

Rijkswaterstaat has delayed the scheduled night closures of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal until September 3 following discussions with Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland regarding the impact on logistics. The agency is now evaluating alternative measures to maintain waterway safety amid ongoing personnel shortages that affect night traffic control.

Rijkswaterstaat has officially postponed the planned nighttime closures of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal by two days, moving the start date to September 3. This decision followed an emergency consultation with the trade association Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland (KBN), which argued that the restrictions would cause significant disruptions to the logistics chain. The agency is currently reviewing alternative measures proposed by the industry to address staffing shortages that have hampered traffic control services.

The nightly closures, intended to run from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, target vessels over 135 meters in length and those carrying hazardous materials. Rijkswaterstaat asserts that these measures are essential to maintain safety when professional guidance is unavailable. However, KBN remains critical of the policy, calling the implementation order premature and warning of potential legal action if a more sustainable solution is not reached. Further discussions between the parties are scheduled to continue in the coming days.

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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