04. The Kolksluis - Spaarndam

The Kolksluis: the oldest working lock in the Netherlands. A special monument, the Kolksluis. This is not just any lock. It is the oldest still operating lock in the Netherlands, built in 1280. That is more than seven centuries ago. At that time Spaarndam was an important point to regulate the water of the Spaarne and the IJ.

The Kolksluis was constructed on the order of Count Floris V. He wanted to protect the land against flooding and at the same time ensure that ships could sail safely. Thanks to this lock, trade in Haarlem and Amsterdam grew. Around the lock the village of Spaarndam developed, which owes its name to the dam in the Spaarne.

The lock has experienced a lot. During the Eighty Years’ War it was even used to flood the land as a defence. Later it was rebuilt several times, but the old stones and the wooden gates can still be seen. Since 1987 the Kolksluis has been a national monument.

Today the lock is still in operation. And it is operated by volunteers. It is a place where history and water management come together.