Ottersluis, sluis in Dordrecht, Nederland
Ottersluis is a small lock between the Nieuwe Merwede river and the Otterkanaal in Dordrecht, built with simple point doors that swing open to let boats pass. The chamber stretches about 39 meters long and 7 meters wide, serving primarily small vessels that need to move between the two waterways.
Ottersluis was built in 1863 and originally served water management to prevent flooding in the area. When the Nieuwe Merwede was created in the 1800s, the lock became part of a larger water system that helped regulate flow between different channels and connected the region.
Ottersluis takes its name from the nearby Otterkanaal and reflects how local people have long shaped their lives around water passage. Today recreational boaters use the lock regularly, and the place embodies the quiet, functional rhythm of daily water traffic in Dordrecht.
The lock operates during daylight hours, typically from morning until afternoon, with exact times varying by day of the week. Visitors should know the site is only accessible by water and there is no public land access to the lock itself.
The lock preserves its original point-door system from 1863 and operates manually without modern radio controls, making it unusual today. This hands-on approach marks it as a rare example of traditional Dutch water management still in daily use.
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