The National Tap

Inside the Haringvlietsluizen, the sluices in-between the North Sea and the Haringvliet. Affectionately called ' the National Tap' for it's main role in controlling the drainage of river water. Quite impressive, as there are 17 sluices, each with two doors and four pumps.

** WARNING - nerdy techy bit following **

These sluices have been playing the leading role in a fierce debate involving fish migration and fresh water availability. For migrating fish the Haringvliet could (and should) be a main entrance to the big European rivers Rhine and Meuse, if the sluices wouldn't prevent them from entering. Therefore the plan evolved to open up the sluice doors a tiny bit, allowing fish to enter. However, that would salinize the now fresh Haringvliet lake, a major fresh water storage for agriculture and industry.

So there you go, a multi-decade debate was born. They say it will now really open in 2017 or 2018. But then they said that before too...