Delfland Eases Drought Measures and Opens Parksluizen Twice Daily

Overview

• Delfland has started limited passage through the Grote Parksluis and Kleine Parksluis, opening each lock for two six-hour windows daily to let professional and recreational vessels through.
• The district announced it will lift the surface-water extraction ban so users may resume withdrawals previously restricted under categories three and four of the national priority list.
• Officials said the change follows a rise in Rhine discharge from historically low levels to above 700 cubic metres per second together with recent rainfall and lower temperatures that reduced evaporation.
• Other locks on the Nieuwe Maas, including the Vlaardinger Driesluizen and the Buitensluis, remain closed to avoid further salt intrusion while alternative routes via the Parksluizen are in place and limited weekend openings will be scheduled for vessels that cannot reroute.
• Delfland warned the drought is not over and will keep close monitoring and conditional limits in place, noting the move relieves short-term pressure on horticulture, industry and recreation but leaves the region vulnerable if river inflow falls again.