Drought forces multiple Gelderland ferries out of service
Several ferries in the Dutch province of Gelderland have been taken out of service because of low water levels caused by ongoing drought, Omroep Gelderland reported. In mid-July, low water levels already forced several key ferries on the Waal and IJssel to stop operating.
The problems in Gelderland and near the border with Overijssel stem from the low water level of the Rhine and the low discharge toward its branches, the Waal, and the IJssel. The Rhine reached its lowest water level ever measured last week.
No ferry outages have been reported in other regions so far. In many places, however, other measures have been imposed, including bans on water extraction and the closure of locks.
The ferry service between Doornenburg and Pannerden stopped operating yesterday. The ferry between Rheden and Rhederlaag can no longer carry cyclists or pedestrians. The ferries between Druten and Dodewaard and between Beuningen and Slijk-Ewijk are also out of service. The Liniepont near Culemborg is not running. That vessel forms part of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie along the border between Gelderland and Utrecht.
Passengers were still able to use the foot ferry between Rhederlaag and the village of Rheden until 8 p.m. Sunday. Ferry operator Richard van Oijen described the situation as exceptional.
“We have been out of service more often in the past, but that was always due to high water. This is, as far as I can remember, the first time in our history that we cannot sail due to low water,” he told Omroep Gelderland. It is unclear how long the interruption will last.
Earlier, other ferries across the IJssel were taken out of service, including the service between Dieren and Olburgen and the ferry between Brummen and Bronkhorst.
Ton Paulus Veerbedrijf operates crossings that include those between Opheusden and Wageningen, between Wijk bij Duurstede and Rijswijk, and between Wijk bij Duurstede and Beusichem. The company said all of its Gelderland ferries are currently operating normally and that it is not yet concerned about the coming days.
