Traffic jams
Up-to-date information about closures for waterway and road traffic and changes to operating times for bridges and locks in our working area.
Current closures of waterways
No service Eendrachtsbrug Appingedam
Due to construction work, the Eendrachtsbrug will be closed until December 26, 2025 .
Passage is possible via the side channel (approx. 1.50 m clearance height).
The Appingedam marina can be reached via the Nieuwe Diep.
Further information: Municipality of Eemsdelta, Mr. B. de Vries, tel. 140596 (no area code required)
Work on Nieuwe Diep in Appingedam
From January 19 to April 1, 2026, work will be carried out in the Nieuwe Diep near the Nieuwedieptil.
Due to the presence of pontoons with a crane, the navigable width of the waterway has been halved at this location.
There may also be delays in transit during the aforementioned period.
Further information: Municipality of Eemsdelta, Mr. N. de Vries, tel. 140596 (without area code)
Limited passage through Damsterdiep in Groningen near Ruischerwaard
In connection with reinforcement work, work is being carried out near Ruischerwaard in Groningen.
For this purpose, pontoons will be located in the Damsterdiep until April 1, 2026 and very limited passage is possible for small vessels.
There may also be delays in passage during the work.
Further information: Kooi Construction Company, Mr. Voolstra, tel. 0596 692 692
Damsterdiep obstruction in Appingedam city center
Renovation work will be carried out on the Breedebrug, Vlintenbrug, Smallebrug, and Vrouwenbrug bridges in Appingedam between October 1 and December 31, 2025.
As a result, shipping on the aforementioned section of the Damsterdiep was blocked during that period.
There is no through navigation possible from the Groote Heekt to the Damsterdiep (towards Delfzijl).
From Groote Heekt, the Appingedam marina can only be reached via the Damsterdiep (towards Groningen) and the Nieuwe Diep.
More information: Municipality of Eemsdelta, Mr. Niels de Vries, via nielsdevries@burorondom.nl or tel. 140596 (without area code)
Convoy sailing on the Hoendiep near Zuidhorn
Due to a prolonged technical malfunction of the Gabrug bridge, it is now being operated manually on a periodic basis according to the schedule below.
As a result, there is limited passage on the Hoendiep, insofar as it depends on bridge operation.
Service Briltil to De Poffert Briltil - Gabrug | Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (departure) | Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays 9:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (departure) |
| Faner Bridge | 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (departure) | 9:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (departure) |
| Enumatil | 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (departure) | 9:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (departure) |
| Oostwold | 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (departure) | 9:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (departure) |
| The Poffert | 9:50 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. (arrival) | 10:35 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. (arrival) |
Operation Briltil to Briltil The Poffert | Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (departure) | Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays 10:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (departure) |
| Oostwold | 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (departure) | 10:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (departure) |
| Enumatil | 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (departure) | 10:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (departure) |
| Faner Bridge | 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (departure) | 10:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (departure) |
| Briltil - Gabrug | 11:50 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. (arrival) | 12:05 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. (arrival) |
Further information: Province of Groningen, Mr. Mulder, tel. 06 22828862
No service Westerwijtwerder turn
Due to a malfunction, the Westerwijtwerderdraai bridge in Westerwijtwerd is out of service until further notice.
There is no through route from Boterdiep to Westerwijtwerd via the Westerwijtwerdermaar to the Damsterdiep.
The Stedum marina is only accessible from Damsterdiep via Westerwijtwerdermaar.
More information: Municipality of Eemsdelta, Mr. B. de Vries, tel. 140596 (without area code)
Possible delays on Boterdiep in Bedum
From March 10, 2025, until further notice, work will be carried out at Boterdiep Zuidzijde in Bedum. This may cause some delays to shipping. The remaining passage width is approximately 6 meters. If necessary, the work pontoon will be moved for passing vessels.
More information: Municipality of Hogeland, N. Hildebrand, tel. 088 345888
Hunsingo Bridge in the Hunsingo Canal in Zoutkamp has limited operability
The Hunsingo Bridge will have limited operation in the coming period. The Hunsingo Bridge can currently only be operated manually, and some work and various (safety) tests still need to be carried out. Passage will remain possible on the days listed below, provided that passers-by report to the Groningen provincial planning department (050-3164009) at least 24 hours in advance.
- Friday, December 12, 2025
- Friday, December 19, 2025
- From January 9, 2026, every Friday until March 2026 (expected)
Transit time approximately 1:30 p.m.
Further information: Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, Mr. E. Ottens, tel.050 3048344
Limited operation Roggenkampsluis Delfzijl
Due to a technical malfunction, the Roggenkampsluis lock has limited operability.
Requests to operate the Roggenkampsluis, the bridge over the lock, and the Stuurhuisbrug must be submitted 24 hours in advance to the bridge keeper by calling 06 46 05 79 14. on BRUG 15.
You can also take a detour via the Groevesluis – Noord near Appingedam to the Stadshaven Appingedam.
For more information, please contact the Municipality of Eemsdelta, Mr. B. de Vries, tel. 140596 (abbreviated number).
Questions about waterways and obstructions
If you have any questions about the above closures, please contact the designated contact person. For general questions about waterways or to request a waterway closure, please contact A. Groeneveld (waterway manager), telephone number050 304 8911.
Current road traffic disruptions
There are no obstructions to road traffic.
Information on the opening or closure of the H.D. Louwes floodgate
Reading coagulation from graph
The passage through the Hunsingo Canal at the floodgate near the H.D. Louwes pumping station may be blocked.
You can see the congestion from the graph:
Explanation of graph
- Sluice gate open - green area
A green area in the graph indicates that passage is possible at that specific moment. In that case, the lights at the entrance to the Hunsingo Canal at Zoutkamp and the Abelstok pumping station are off. - Sluice closed - red area
A red area in the graph indicates that passage is blocked at that specific moment. The lights at the Hunsingo Sluice and Abelstok pumping station will also be red. - Green/red or red/green area
The graph shows the status for the past day. Did the lock open or close yesterday? If so, you will see both red and green in the graph. A red area on the right-hand side indicates that the lock was closed at that specific moment. A green area on the right-hand side indicates that the lock was open at that specific moment.
If you have any problems reading the graph, please contact us atinfo@noorderzijlvest.nl.
Water retention is the most important task
The floodgate must hold back (divert) the water when necessary for the management of water levels in our working area. That is its most important task. When it is not necessary to hold back the water, the floodgate is open. Then passage is possible. At higher water levels, it may be necessary for us to close the floodgate. The floodgate then closes within 10 minutes. The lights at the Abelstoksluis and Hunsingosluis locks will then turn red. Is the light off? Then the H.D. Louwes floodgate is closed at that moment.
More information
Water levels
More information about water levels can be found on our water level map. View the current water levels for the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority's working area and information about water levels from Rijkswaterstaat.
New Waterworks Zoutkamp
The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority is increasing the capacity of the H.D. Louwespumping stationand reinforcing the regionalflood defensesin Zoutkamp. This is necessary to guarantee water safety in the long term. In a few years' time, the Hunsingo lock will take over the task of the floodgate at H.D. Louwes. The Hunsingo lock will serve as both a floodgate and a lock.New Waterworks Zoutkamp
General information for recreational boaters in our working area
The boating season starts on May 1 and lasts until October 1. During the boating season, there are extended operating hours on the waterways to give recreation more space.