Sluis Born

Sluis Born is a lock system with three parallel chambers along the Juliana Canal, managing a water level difference of about 11 meters. The middle chamber is notably longer than the others and allows passage for large cargo vessels.

The lock was completed in 1934 and formed part of a larger system with four locks handling the total water descent. It was built as key infrastructure to support inland waterway transport.

Two soldiers, Piet Walraeven and Harie Custers, lost their lives defending the lock during the German invasion on May 10, 1940.

The lock operates around the clock and is monitored from a control center that coordinates vessel passages. Visitors can watch the lock in action from the publicly accessible areas alongside the waterway.

The middle chamber stretches about 225 meters in length and ranks among the largest locks in the country. This size allows it to accommodate very large inland vessels like CEMT Class Va ships, making it exceptional in European terms.

Location: Sittard-Geleen

Address: Sluisweg bij 1

GPS coordinates: 51.03585,5.79740

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:27