General information
Because of road work, you have to take extra travel time into account. The A7 Afsluitdijk will remain open to road users as much as possible during the road work. If work has to be carried out on the road, one lane will be closed to traffic. For both road and shipping traffic, the Afsluitdijk is always busier in summer than in winter.
Road work April 2025 - October 2025
During the 2025 recreational season, various works will be carried out along the Afsluitdijk, causing disruption for road users, shipping, pedestrians, and cyclists. These works include:
- the expansion of water discharge capacity at Den Oever (construction of two new discharge sluices and a pumping station)
- the restoration of the Vlieter Monument
- the construction of the Fish Migration River
- major maintenance works on the discharge sluices at Kornwerderzand
On certain sections, fewer lanes will be available. Road users should therefore anticipate an added travel time of 30 to 60 minutes.
Check the best route before you travel
If the Afsluitdijk is part of your journey this summer, please be aware of additional disruption. Increased traffic on both road and water is a recurring situation during the summer months. This is because the Afsluitdijk is also widely used by recreational traffic on land and water.
On Fridays — the busiest day of the week on the Afsluitdijk during summer — around 28,000 vehicles travel across it. That’s approximately 6,000 more than on an average Friday outside the summer period. In addition, ten times more vessels pass through the sluices compared to the winter months, meaning the bridge opens more frequently.
Make sure to plan your journey well, avoid peak times where possible, and take potential delays into account. Check the current disruption table for a detailed overview of closures, restrictions and possible diversions. Looking for tips on road traffic or navigation? Click through to the relevant page.
Traffic disruption table
Traffic disruption table
In the table below we inform you about the largest planned works.
Work and nuisance
In various sections of the road traffic can use only a single lane. This applies to both directions.
A new water pump station and new sea locks are being built and the existing lock system is being renovated.
Fewer lanes Kornwerderzand
There is only one lane available in each direction at Kornwerderzand. This is due to the major maintenance work being carried out at the sluices. Travel time may increase from 30 to 60 minutes in combination with recreational traffic and disruption on other routes on the Afsluitdijk.
Parkingsite Vlietermonument IJsselmeer side closed to road traffic
Due to the renovation of the A7 around the Vlieter Monument, the parking spaces on the north side are not accessible for the time being.
Afsluitdijk cyle path partly closed; free shuttle bus service
Windpark Fryslân is installing power cables for the new wind farm Read more alternative transportation.
Day recreation area Kornwerderzand closed
The day recreation area (the so-called motorhome pitches) is closed for the establishment of a work site at Kornwerderzand.
Parkingsite Vlietermonument IJsselmeer side closed to road traffic
Due to the renovation of the A7 around the Vlieter Monument, the parking spaces on the north side are not accessible for the time being.
View all road work
Van A naar BeterCyclists and hikers
Cycle path largely open
The new cycle and foot path along the Wadden Sea is open. You can cycle and walk overlooking the beautiful Unesco World Heritage Site, the Wadden Sea.
Cycle and foot path on the Afsluitdijk
The new cycle and foot path - some 24 kilometres long on the Wadden Sea side - is open between the locks at Den Oever on the Noord-Holland side (west) and Kornwerderzand on the Friesland side (east). The same is true of the existing cycle and foot path along the A7. To reach the path between the locks, bicyclists and hikers will have to use the free bicycle bus.
The new cycle path along the Wadden Sea in Friesland - about 4.5 kilometres long between Zurich and Kornwerderzand - is also open. From Friesland, you can reach this path on foot or by bike. At the Kornwerderzand viaduct, you can either turn around or opt to continue along the Afsluitdijk cycle and foot path. To do this, get on the free bicycle bus at the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre.
To the cycle and foot path by bus
As a cyclist or hiker, you can use the free bicycle bus to get past the locks on the Afsluitdijk. With the bike bus, you can cross the Afsluitdijk or get off at one of the stops to continue your journey on foot or by bike. The bicycle bus stops at the Afsluitdijk Wadden Centre, Vismigratierivier, Breezanddijk Noord, Monument Noord and at the Den Oever bus station. Check the Bicycle Bus page for more information such as the exact location of the stops and the current timetable.
Line bus 350
Hikers can also take the regularly scheduled Arriva bus line 350, but this bus stops at fewer stops than the bicycle bus and is not free of charge. Line bus 350 stops only at the Monument Noord stop. The line bus is not an option for bicyclists since bikes may not be taken on the bus.
The timetable for the Arriva 350 bus line may change due to work activity on the Afsluitdijk. Check the travel planner before you leave.
The new cycle path along the Wadden Sea was implemented as an initiative of the provinces of North Holland and Friesland and the municipalities of Hollands Kroon and Súdwest-Fryslân.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it impossible to cycle or walk past the locks?
There is currently no cycle and foot path available. The bridges for hikers and cyclists at the locks have been removed for the reinforcement and renovation of the Afsluitdijk. In addition, there is currently work being done at the locks at Den Oever.
Why don't you replace the bridges for people on foot and by bike?
The bridges cannot be replaced because they have been taken apart.
When will the entire Afsluitdijk be open again to cyclists and hikers?
By far the largest part is open. Work will be carried out at various locations on the Afsluitdijk in the coming years. At least during the year 2025, it will not be possible to pass the locks on foot or by bicycle. That is why the bicycle bus will run until at least the end of 2025. We are exploring the options to improve the accessibility of the cycle path for the period after 2025.
Other questions?
Please contact Loket Afsluitdijk (Helpdesk) by calling 0800-6040 or e-mailing loket@deafsluitdijk.nl.