The lock in Rustenburg is the only one in West Friesland that is operated by volunteers. At least, if there are any. Because due to a lack of manpower, the lock is in danger of remaining closed at times during the sailing season. Lock keeper Rob: “If there are no volunteers, the boats come here for nothing.”
Rob Idzerda is one of the lock keepers in Rustenburg and he is looking for more colleagues. “There are too few volunteers. This threatens the continuity of operating the lock. So we are looking for people who want to operate the lock during the week or at the weekend.”
Detour
Because no volunteers means no passage. “Then the boats come for nothing. This is an important junction in the route to Kolhorn, for example. If you have to detour, it can easily be a number of kilometers. We may be important as volunteers, but above all we are enthusiastic. It is nice to meet people to meet and talk to them. Sometimes you are busy, sometimes not. You work in nature. It is fun to do.”
Interested parties can register at NH Helpswhich volunteer Rob visited at the lock: