Closing dyke passages exercise - 25 September
On Thursday, 25 September, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority and the Hunze en Aa’s Water Authority will conduct an exercise to close the dyke passages (the coupures). This will take place from 17:30 to 22:00. The exercises is held every year before the start of the storm season.
Exercise
The exercise helps us prepare for emergencies. By practising closing the dyke passages, we know exactly what to do in the event of high water. Once the doors are closed, we open them again. This minimises disruption for residents and visitors. Thanks to the work of the water authorities, we can waterproof the future.
Storm season
Storms and high water occur most frequently between October and April. During this period, we are on standby to monitor dykes and flood embankments. Between the city and the port of Delfzijl lies a dyke that protects the city from seawater. The dyke has four passages that allow access from the city to the port and vice versa. These passages have large doors: two electric roller doors, one revolving door, and one sliding door. We close these doors (the 'coupures') when the water level reaches 3 metres above NAP (Amsterdam Ordnance Datum). It does not remain completely dry behind the doors. That is not a problem: the leaking water goes into the sewer.
More information about waterproofing the future: Storms and high water.
