Major lock upgrade in Tilburg: what it means for waterway users
Residents and businesses in Tilburg face prolonged disruptions as the Wilhelminakanaal Lock II undergoes a major upgrade. The project, now in its final bidding phase, could extend closures beyond the initial 18-month estimate, affecting local transport and logistics.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project | Wilhelminakanaal Lock II |
| Location | Tilburg, Noord-Brabant |
| Tender Launch | June 2025 |
| Current Phase | Dialogue phase with candidate contractor |
| Submission Deadline | July 2026 |
| Expected Closure | Longer than the previously estimated 1.5 years |
| Managing Authority | Rijkswaterstaat South Netherlands |
| Impact | Disruptions to waterway users, including transport and logistics sectors |
Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, responsible for managing and maintaining the country’s waterways and infrastructure. In this role, it oversees large-scale projects like the Wilhelminakanaal Lock II to ensure safe and efficient water transport.
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Progress of works on Wilhelminakanaal Lock II
Published on: March 31, 2026, 12:32 PM
In 2025, the tender process for the Wilhelminakanaal Lock II project in Tilburg was launched. A candidate is in discussions with the project team and is working on a design, schedule, and price offer.
Tender process
In June 2025, we initiated the tender process for the Wilhelminakanaal Lock II project. Since September 2025, we have been in discussions with a candidate interested in executing the project. This marked the start of the dialogue phase. During this phase, the candidate analyzes the contract documents and can ask questions to the project team to gain a better understanding of the project.
Using this information, the candidate is developing a design and an associated schedule, which are required for a price offer.
Submission
The submission for the Wilhelminakanaal Lock II project is scheduled for July 2026. After submission, the project team will assess the proposal. This will clarify what the design will look like and what the schedule is, including the expected disruption for waterway users.
Other works
In the coming years, other works will also be carried out on the waterways in southern Netherlands. These will also involve disruptions and closures. Based on current insights, Lock II will remain closed for longer than the previously estimated one and a half years.
Rijkswaterstaat South Netherlands, the manager of the waterways, is working with various projects and external stakeholders on the complex task of planning and minimizing necessary disruptions as effectively as possible.