The route has been closed for the past 8 months for work and has been made suitable for larger ships up to 190 m long, 11.4 m wide, and a maximum of 3.5 m deep. The Julianakanaal is part of the Maasroute, an indispensable link between the ports in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. About 25,000 cargo ships sail annually.

Detours Ended

During an official moment when the canal was put back into use, the Wiljaco F, the flagship of the Fransbergen Company from Maasbracht, had the honor of being the first to be locked at Lock Born. With a load of sand, the ship can resume its usual route to the south, this time heading to Tessenderlo in Belgium. This marks the end of a period of detours.

Sailing Past the Dam

Another ship, the Ms Elja from the PTC Group, sailed today as the first ship past the partially demolished dam. This dam ensured that the contractor could work in a safe and dry environment for 8 months. The dam has been sufficiently demolished over the past week to allow ships to pass safely again. Loaded with steel, the Ms Elja went over an expanded Julianakanaal on its way to Tata Steel in Amsterdam.

Impact

The work on the Julianakanaal has had a significant impact on the sector and the business community. It has been a period that required a lot of flexibility from them. Throughout the project, all involved partners have been kept as informed as possible. Residents along the canal became closely involved in the project during the implementation. We increasingly had canal watchers during the work. Such a drained canal is, of course, special. From today, the canal is again used for its intended purpose. Water transport in Limburg can once again take place as usual over the Maasroute.