Ferries have been taken out of service at several places along the major rivers. The boats can no longer make the crossing due to the extremely low water levels.
The Wijhese ferry across the IJssel, between Wijhe (Overijssel) and Heerde (Gelderland), no longer takes trucks and agricultural vehicles, because they put too much strain on the ferry. The ferry across the Lek between Beusichem and Wijk bij Duurstede has also been unable to transfer vehicles heavier than 5 tons since Sunday.
The bicycle and pedestrian ferry across the Rhine to the wharf in the Arnhem city blocks-Meinerswijk no longer takes cyclists, because the ship can no longer lower the tail lift and has to moor the other way around.
The Uiterwaarde Foundation, which manages ten pedestrian and bicycle ferries across the Waal, Lower Rhine and Lek, has shut down four river crossings. These are the ferries across the Waal between Beuningen and Slijk-Ewijk, between Druten and Dodewaard and between Varik and Heerewaarden. The Liniepont, which sails across Nederrijn and Lek from Culemborg to Houten and Everdingen, does not sail either. More connections may be out of service this week, because the river water will continue to drop for the time being.
The ferry operator of the ferry between Millingen aan de Rijn and Pannerden across the Rhine also thinks it will have to stop sailing very soon, because the water is too low. Many ferries and ferries are part of frequently used cycling and walking routes such as the Pieterpad. Now that the ships are not sailing, long detours have to be made.