Waterway management and obstructions

We manage waterways: clean, safe, and deep and wide enough. The boating season starts on 1 May and lasts until 1 October. During the boating season, there are extended operating hours on the waterways to create more room for recreational boaters. We will keep you informed of obstructions.

Current obstructions

  • Current information about obstructions for shipping and road traffic and changes to the operating times of bridges and locks in our region.
  • vaarweginformatie.nl On this website, you will find information about the availability of the waterway.

Maximum speed

There is a single maximum speed limit on all our waterways: 6 kilometres per hour.

Bridges, locks, and operating hours

There are two ways to open and close the bridges:

  • The bridge operator operates the bridge. You can find out when the bridge operator opens and closes the bridge between 1 May and 1 October on the website of the Province of Groningen:www.provinciegroningen.nl/varen-in-groningen
  • You operate the bridge yourself. You can open and close many bridges and locks yourself until 20:00. You will find instructions at those bridges and locks.

Shipping routes

The water authority does not provide up-to-date information about shipping routes. More information about shipping routes in our region:

General information for recreational boaters in our region

What does our waterway management involve?

Recreational boating on Winsumerdiep
Boat on Winsumerdiep

The water authority ensures:

  • sufficient depth and width of our waterways;
  • clean waterways. For example, we remove aquatic plants and sunken objects;
  • safe waterways - when work is carried out on a waterway, the skipper can see everything clearly;
  • enough space for boats to pass under bridges;
  • information about delays. For example, if a waterway is inaccessible for a period of time;
  • Clear signs and traffic signs: do you see something that is incorrect or missing? Please report it.