For the first time since 2019, the cycle path on the Afsluitdijk was opened again today, and thousands of cyclists and walkers were not told twice. They were a bit lucky today: while it rained for a large part of the day in the rest of the province, it remained almost dry on the Afsluitdijk.
Afsluitdijk open for holidaymakers this weekend: “Stay in Friesland and return tomorrow” – NH News
Folding bicycles, recumbent bicycles, racing bicycles and of course traditional bicycles: almost all two-wheelers were present today on the 32-kilometre-long dike. Some recreational users made the crossing once, others also cycled back and the real die-hards went for a small or large round of IJsselmeer.
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“We’ll spend the night in a hotel and then we’ll make the journey back tomorrow,” says a resident of Schage to reporter Rosanne van Veen. They are not quite sure of a successful return journey yet, his wife adds with a laugh. “We hope we can charge, because tomorrow we will have a headwind. Otherwise we will be halfway without a battery.”
The dike is being thoroughly renovated and has therefore been closed for years. And a lot of work still needs to be done in the coming years to make the dike future-proof. The one-off opening this weekend is therefore quite a challenge: just before the weekend, Rijkswaterstaat quickly asphalted some parts of the cycle path, and dozens of volunteers had to place kilometers of barriers.
Iconic
All in all, the only opening of the cycle path on the dike costs about 100,000 euros, but Rijkswaterstaat previously informed NH that it considers the investment more than worth it. “It is an iconic part for cycling in the Netherlands,” said Jaap Buitink. “I call it the Alpe D’Huez of the Netherlands. It is wonderful if we can open it up again to cyclists after so many years.”
Although the work will take years to complete, the dike is expected to reopen for cyclists for a weekend in 2024. Kees Mourits hopes that the dike will open more often for recreational users. “The icon will become even more iconic, but we think opening once a year is too little.”
Olympic skating champion Erben Wennemars is also present today, and – as befits a great sportsman – makes a big round of the Zuiderzee. “I’ve already done 206, still 130 to go,” he says of his progress. The weather conditions are bad for him. “This is the only part that it’s dry, but I’ve only had rain, rain and more rain.”
A young couple has set aside three days for a tour of the Zuiderzee. “That’s something we’ve been waiting for a few years, so that’s really nice.” And spokesman Johan de Boer of Rijkswaterstaat has heard that more often today. “From people who can finally walk that missing stage of the Zuiderzeepad.”
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Just like today, the Afsluitdijk will be open to recreational users tomorrow (Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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