Lock complex Sambeek

The construction of a weir and a lock in the Meuse near Sambeek in the 1920s was part of a larger plan to keep the Meuse more manageable and navigable by channelling it. Not everyone was equally enthusiastic about this.

For example, the Boxmeers Weekblad of 5 June 1920 noted that about 160 morgen of land would be lost: "Not only the large farmers, but also the small man who annually stocks up hay here for the winter, will be the victims of this. Although the State may pay the owners the expropriated plots in a red manner, there is still no grass and hay in their place. And there will be a need for this."

But the greater importance of a controlled river swept away these objections. In 1929, the weir and lock complex at Sambeek was put into operation. As a rain river, the Meuse is highly dependent on precipitation for its water level. In order to be able to maintain the minimum navigation depth of three metres in dry times, six weirs were built in the river. These weirs were built at Borgharen, Linne, Roermond, Belfeld (all in Limburg), Sambeek and Grave. Between 1932 and 1936 the weir at Lith was added.

From Borgharen to Sambeek, the weirs are all built according to the same principle. The weir consists of two parts. One part is built according to the Poirée system, the other is equipped with so-called Stoney slides. The Poirée weir consists of 13 openings of 4.85 m between yokes. Three partitions of 1.56m can be placed on top of each other in each opening. If the water discharge from the Meuse is less than 200 m3, the Poirée weir is completely closed and the level is further regulated by the Stoney gates, in two 17-metre flow openings.

If the water discharge is between 200 m3 and 1070 m3, so many bulkheads are removed that water level control can be done with the control valves for as long as possible. With a discharge of more than 1070 m3, all bulkheads are removed and the yokes are lowered flat on the river bottom. The Stoney gates will then be fully erected and shipping will not have to use the lock.

Of course, this has to be done when the weir is in operation. Then the artillery has to be fired. After the Second World War, inland shipping grew enormously. In 1953, 60,398 ships passed through the lock at Sambeek. This resulted in long waiting times, which is why the complex was expanded in the years 1964-1968 with two smaller chambers of 142 meters.

The arrival of larger inland vessels (with a length of 190 metres and a draught of 3.50 metres) forced Rijkswaterstaat to adapt the three locks. In 2011-2012, the two 'small' locks were fitted with new doors, movement mechanisms and drives. And the heads of the long lock, with a chamber of 260 metres in length, will be widened from 14 to 16 metres in 2013. Furthermore, the thresholds and floors will be deepened and the gully walls will be raised.

Outdoor Overloon