Rising water levels in the Netherlands: 'The situation is expected to become somewhat more positive'

06 jan 2024 om 12:33 Update: 6 minuten geleden

Water in Dutch rivers and lakes remains high. Water levels will rise further in some places, but the forecast is favorable. Little rain is expected and water can drain from the IJsselmeer.

“The systems are full, but not so full that it jeopardizes water safety,” a Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson told NU.nl. “The whole system can handle it.”

The water in the Maas River has already reached its peak near Maastricht. Now the water flows across the river towards Rotterdam. This may cause some localized flooding before the water disappears into the sea.

The Rhine has not yet reached its peak, but water levels will likely not be higher than they were at Christmas. The Rhine then peaked at about 14.50 meters at Lopeth. “The forecast now is that it will be around 14.35.”

Water levels in the Rhine affect tributaries such as the IJssel. Deventer takes into account that the water level in the IJssel could cause flooding on the pier on Monday. Before New Year's Eve, sandbags and large sacks had already been placed in the lower portions of the pier.

Flood risk around Markermere

The water eventually ends up in Markermeer and IJsselmeer. As a result, the water levels there will continue to rise in the coming days, while the water is already high.

According to the Rijkswaterstaat, it will be possible to drain water from the IJsselmeer. “The Markermeer can only be achieved if the water in the IJsselmeer is lower.”

Additional flooding is possible, especially around the Markermere area. This is because the winds may blow more strongly and the winds move towards the east. Wind strength is expected to range from 5 to 6 pm Saturday. This could push water towards places like Hoorn, Edam, Volendam. “This could cause problems outside the dams.”

However, the Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson is generally positive. “Everyone is on alert. But as far as I can see now, this won't cause any major problems. Just some inconvenience.”

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Brian Rodriguez

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Rising water levels in the Netherlands: 'The situation is expected to become somewhat more positive' | local

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