Dyke passageway closure exercise this year on 25 September
On Wednesday, September 25, the Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s Water Boards will be practicing closing the dyke passages the coupures). We will be doing this from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The exercise is repeated every year before the start of the storm season.
The exercise helps us prepare for emergencies. By dyke passages closing the dyke passages , we know exactly what to do in the event of high water. Thanks to the work of the water boards, we can waterproofing the future.
Storm season
Storms and high water levels occur most frequently between October and April. During this period, we are on standby to monitor dykes quays. 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.
There will be no high water on September 25. Once the doors have been closed, we will open them again. This will limit the inconvenience for residents and visitors.
More information about waterproofing the future:Storms and high water