Finally, after a few years of intensive construction, the official opening of the largest sea lock in the world, Zeesluis IJmuiden, is today. His Majesty the King will open the IJmuiden Sea Lock this afternoon, the program can be followed online from 14:45-15:30 via the website Opening Zeesluis IJmuiden. This new sea lock, which will be taken into use from today, will replace the Noordersluis. The Noordersluis has been in existence since 1929 and is expected to reach the end of its technical life in 2029. The Noordersluis had meanwhile also become too small for the increasingly larger seagoing vessels. Sea lock IJmuiden allows ships to pass through the IJmuiden lock complex safely and smoothly, regardless of the tide.
The new larger sea lock is no less than 500 meters long, 70 meters wide and 18 meters deep Rijkswaterstaat. So very large ships can pass through here without any problems. Construction started in 2016 and was completed in August last year. The Zeesluis IJmuiden project is a collaboration between the parties to the covenant, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the province of North Holland and the municipality of Amsterdam, together with Port of Amsterdam and the municipality of Velsen. After the completion of construction, considerable practice and testing was done by all parties that will work with the sea lock. After the opening of Zeesluis IJmuiden this afternoon, King Willem-Alexander will talk to a number of people involved in the construction industry, residents and the port business community.
Photo above and below: Image Bank Rijkswaterstaat.
