The Reitdiep is an important waterway. Maintenance through dredging is necessary to keep the depth at the right level so that shipping can continue safely. During the dredging of the Reitdiep, sludge is released. This sludge needs to be disposed of somewhere. The province used dumping pits in the Lauwersmeer for this purpose. They received a permit from Rijkswaterstaat, the owner of the pits.
Last month, two nature organizations filed an objection with the court. They believe that Rijkswaterstaat should not have granted the permit because insufficient research was done on the effect of the sludge on water quality. The judge decided to temporarily suspend the permit. This means the permit is currently invalid and sludge dumping in the Lauwersmeer is on hold until a decision is made regarding the objection. The sludge dumping had already been halted for some time, since July 16, 2025. As a result, the province cannot complete maintenance of the Reitdiep this year.
Delay in work
The dredging of the Reitdiep is not yet finished and is delayed. At this moment, there are no suitable alternatives to dispose of the sludge.
The court will soon decide on the objection. The province is awaiting the ruling. Based on this, it will become clear what consequences this has for maintenance of the Reitdiep.
Maintenance of the Reitdiep
The Reitdiep is an important waterway between Groningen and Zoutkamp. Due to sludge and sand, it can become shallow. Proper maintenance ensures that the Reitdiep remains deep enough, ships can navigate safely, water flows well, and water quality improves. The province carried out maintenance work from April 2025. Originally, the work was to be completed by the end of 2025.
