Earlier than expected, skipper Hendrik Hans Stroomberg enters the lock at Eefde

Earlier than expected, skipper Hendrik Hans Stroomberg enters the lock at Eefde. "Because it was a bit quiet, I thought: I'm in a hurry. I haven't even cleaned my ship, he says from his ship Elisa.

The intention is that all ships still sailing on the Twente Canal will be gone by tomorrow morning at the latest. The lock at Eefde will close at 12 noon and no one can pass through. Due to the drought and low water levels, this drastic measure is being taken for the first time.

Otherwise, there are fears of irreparable damage to flood defences, soil and nature. "It doesn't matter to me, but it is quite bad for companies, says the skipper. "They're stuck on the ground and can't move like me.

He expects that companies along the canal have built up a stock, because the drought has lasted longer. "But yes, if it takes too long, that stock will eventually run out. The skipper has just come from ForFarmers, one of the companies located directly on the canal.

The animal feed manufacturer has indeed built up extra stock, confirms Ilse Niehof from the factory. "We are fortunate that we have large silos. We can store a lot of feed in them.

Normally the animal feed company makes extensive use of ships such as the Elisa. "We have now had additional trucks arrive through our partner, says Niehof. "They compensate for the temporary loss of ships.

The trucks drive back and forth. 'A very bitter pill' Not all companies along the canal are lucky enough to be able to build up a lot of stock or switch to trucks, says Frank van Zomeren. The manager of the Port of Twente port company is in intensive consultation with companies about possible solutions.

"Of course this did not come out of the blue, says Van Zomeren. "We had already seen for a few weeks that things were going badly on the IJssel, but the fact that this has now been decided by the government for an indefinite period is the first time."