Motorists will face long-term road closures in many places in the Netherlands in the coming years if municipalities and provinces do not receive more money to refurbish outdated bridges, tunnels, quays and locks. The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO) warn about this.
News reporter
There is currently insufficient money available for crucial maintenance or complete replacement for, among others, the Zeeland Bridge, the Haringvliet Bridge, the road bridge over the Juliana Canal near Roosteren and the Zwartewater Bridge near Hasselt. And those are just a few important examples.
“Without additional money, there is a risk of more and long-term road closures,” warns Deputy Harry van der Maas (Zeeland), chairman of the IPO Accessibility and Infrastructure Committee.
According to councilor Jan van Burgsteden (Meierijstad), who is also a member of the VNG Committee on Spatial Planning, Housing and Mobility, a lot is at stake. “Roads must remain safe and schools, hospitals and shops must remain accessible. Employees must be able to get to work without major delays.”
Municipal umbrella organization VNG and provincial interest group IPO are raising the alarm based on a new study by Arcadis and Berenschot, carried out together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Costs of repair work and renovation
Municipalities and provinces now spend over 4 billion euros annually on management, maintenance and innovation. To pay for the renewal, more than 2.1 billion must be added by the end of this century. And that does not include the required budget for price increases. In total, renovating and replacing the entire infrastructure will cost municipalities and provinces 66.5 billion euros.
What is new in the research is that all quay walls have been mapped. That turns out to be almost 40,000, many of which are at the end of their lifespan. Examples are the sea quay in Maassluis and ports at Goeree-Overflakkee. Its repair will cost 16 billion euros. Municipalities and provinces in South Holland, North Holland and Utrecht are particularly hit hard.
Municipal and provincial budgets are not growing sufficiently
To cover all these costs, the government must urgently provide extra money, municipalities and provinces are demanding. They emphasize that 80 percent of all roads, bridges, viaducts and locks fall under their management.
“There is a tremendous amount of overdue maintenance on municipal infrastructure,” says Jan van Burgsteden, councilor in Meierijstad and member of the VNG Spatial, Housing and Mobility committee. “Municipalities fear major inconvenience to residents and entrepreneurs due to long-term or even permanent closures of roads, bridges and tunnels.”
Deputy Harry van der Maas (Zeeland) says that the municipal fund and provincial fund are not increasing enough to pay for the repair work. “We face an enormous challenge to keep the Netherlands accessible. That also requires sufficient money.”
According to him, provinces are already investigating other ways of financing, but that is not enough.
Restrictions already sometimes apply, such as on the Papendrechtsebrug, where an overtaking ban has been in place for all trucks since September. In addition, trucks over 50 tons are no longer allowed to cross it.
Shortage of construction workers
The researchers also warn of a shortage of construction workers and technical personnel. As a result, not all necessary maintenance may be carried out at the same time.
It is not only municipalities and provinces that are struggling with overdue maintenance. The same applies to Rijkswaterstaat and ProRail. They also raised the alarm at the end of last year and say they need an additional 50 billion euros.
Provinces do not (yet) have money for:
– The Haringvliet Bridge, main link between South Holland, North Brabant and Zeeland. The entire bridge deck must be replaced from 2030, but there is no money yet. The costs: at least one billion euros, and the bridge will also have to be closed for at least six months.
– The Zeeland Bridge, which dates from 1965, must be completely replaced between 2035 and 2040 through a new bridge, tunnel or dam. What it should become is now being investigated. What is certain is that the costs could run into billions of euros.
– The Zwartwaterbrug near Hasselt, the largest bridge in Overijssel. The bridge from 1972 – part of the N331 between Zwolle and Emmeloord – is at the end of its lifespan and repairing it no longer makes sense, the province noted in 2019. The previous cost estimate of 110 million euros has now risen to 180 million euros.
– The road bridge over the Juliana Canal near Roosteren (Limburg). The bridge is in poor condition, which is why there is a driving ban for all freight traffic and agricultural vehicles heavier than 3.5 tons. The province has been strictly monitoring this since May 11.
Municipalities do not (yet) have money for:
– 14 old harbors and locks on Goerree-Overflakkee. This has already led to closures, but there is now a master plan to renovate ports in phases. The costs amount to at least 77 million euros.
– The Zeekade in Maassluis is struggling with overdue maintenance. Stabilization measures have been taken to prevent acute danger. Complete replacement is necessary and will cost millions. A tender has now been placed.
– The Visserbrug Groningen was closed after a defective hinge and towed away in September 2024. Replacement will not be possible until 2027. There is currently a temporary bridge for cyclists and pedestrians.
– The Loobrug in De Meern was closed immediately in April 2025 after damage to the foundation of the bridge. It is expected that it will take until 2027 before a new bridge is installed.
