News Item

Published on: July 18, 2025, 08:48 AM

The 75-year-old wooden storm surge doors of the Biesbosch Lock are outdated and need to be completely replaced. This work is being carried out by RWS West Netherlands South in collaboration with the STERK combination.

In the video, you can see how on Thursday, May 8, the old storm surge doors were lifted out using divers and a crane. The work was well coordinated with the surrounding area, and with the good efforts of all parties involved, we were able to complete the work even earlier than planned. 

In the coming months, completely new doors, based on the original design, will be made. This design has proven to be very sustainable given the long lifespan of the existing doors. The new doors will be lifted in by the end of September 2025.

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Replacing Doors and Drives at Biesbosch Lock

(Image title: Replacing Doors and Drives at Biesbosch Lock. May 2025. A sign reads: Knookstaal, bridges, and locks. A boat with a crane enters a lock. Further on lies a pontoon with an even taller crane. A diver descends a ladder and goes underwater by a lock door. Two straps are attached to the lock door.)CALM MUSIC UNTIL THE END OF THE VIDEO(The crane on the pontoon carefully lifts the lock door out of the wall it is attached to and raises it meters high into the air. The pontoon then backs away. A short distance away, the crane places the door down on a quay.)(At the wall where the lock door was attached, several people are working on a drive. The pontoon is back at the lock. A diver descends the ladder and disappears into the water, after which the crane carefully lifts the second lock door.)(Two men fist bump. The lock door rises meters high into the air. The pontoon sails away. When it is at the quay, a van drives towards the door, which is still high in the air. A man on board the pontoon carefully lets down a cable so that the second lock door lies next to the first.)(The Dutch coat of arms with the text: Rijkswaterstaat. Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The image turns yellow and white. Image text: More information? Visit rijkswaterstaat.nl. In collaboration with: Sterk. A production of Rijkswaterstaat. Copyright 2025.)