Waiting pontoon at the
Enkhuizen lock between the Markermeer and IJsselmeer
Enkhuizen lock with its space
age control tower
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There are basically two types of lock:
Keersluis: normally free flow, but closed for flood control
Shutsluis: closed with a level change, eg as on Thames
Usually the rise or fall is minimal, though we have been through some locks in the Schelde estuary area with more than a metre rise due to tidal extremes. We also encountered a few locks in North Holland with two or three meter rises, but these are exceptions. The water flow is usually very gentle - no bouncing about and heaving on lines to restrain a bucking bronco.
The lock chambers themselves can be enormous to deal with traffic levels, with huge towering gates because they are part of the sea/flood defenses and so are built into the dykes. In these monster locks you cannot put your line over a bollard on the lock side, but must use the ones built into the chamber walls which are easy to reach. Since the rises are usually moderate, this presents no real difficulty. However, some of the bollards are very small and you do have to keep watch to make sure that your line does not slip off.
We found no need to contact any lock control on VHF. Entry and exit is always controlled by traffic lights and usually lock keepers are adept at spotting inbound vessels and those waiting on pontoons. Patience may be required as the locking cycle for the large locks can be quite long.
On the major waterways, because the lock keepers are sitting up in their control rooms you won't get any help. Even in the smaller locks, keepers will happily stand on the lock side and watch struggling boats get their lines in a tangle and do nothing to assist. Sometimes the lock keepers will issue instructions over a tannoy system, either in the lock or approaching. We have never understood any of these short sharp commands as our Dutch is not up to it. We have just followed common sense and done what other users are doing. So far so good!
Once the entry light is green, the Dutch (Germans, Belgians etc) all make a mad dash for the lock. There is none of the Thames "after you, you were before me". So you just have to go for it or you will be left outside looking at a full lock! Sail boats seem to treat it as a practice for a race start, with late comers trying to time a run into the lock without stopping, ahead of all those moored up waiting.
Payment for lock passage only seems to be required on the smaller canals and rivers, and varies from €1.00 to €5.00. At some locks you must get off the boat and visit the lock keeper's office to pay, but at most locks, the lock keeper will make a collection round. There seems to be no way of knowing which method will be used in advance. Fees are usually but not always posted before you reach the lock.
Lock essentials
- The big locks are mostly just gentle giants
- Obey lock signals at all times
- It’s a free-for-all to get in!
- Don’t expect any help from the lock keepers
- bediening - opening (times)
- keersluis - lock only closed for flood control
- shutsluis - lock used to navigate level change
- sluis - lock
- sluisgeld - lock dues
- spuisluis - sluice (to regulate flow)
Vlissingen lock
Zandkreek lock at the East end of the Veerse
Meer
Krammersluizen lock into the Volkerak from the Oosterschelde with its clever fresh water flushing arrangement.
Curved lock on side canal to river Vecht
Muiden's double lock on the river Vecht
Copyright © 2006-2009 Mike Hawkridge