From sloops and cabin boats to wrecks and even canoes. Nearly 240 boats are illegally moored on the banks of the Aa river in Den Bosch. Because of the nuisance and danger they cause, the municipality would prefer to remove them all, but that is not allowed. That is why 75 sunken and broken boats are now being removed first.
Want to sail a boat in Den Bosch? That’s allowed. But you are not allowed to simply moor your boat somewhere for a longer period of time. However, in recent years the municipality of Den Bosch has seen more and more illegally moored boats in the Aa, the river that meets the Zuid-Willemsvaart and the Dommel in the center of Den Bosch.
Councilor Ralph Geers: “We have noticed that more and more people are going out on the water since the corona period. We have no policy about mooring, but that does not mean that this is allowed just anywhere.” The water and the banks are the property of the municipality of Den Bosch and the Aa en Maas Water Board. Yet one boat after another was left behind.
“Nobody knows why they are left in such a bad condition.”
There are now almost 240 sloops, cabin boats and wrecks illegally in the river. A large part of it has partly sunk or broken, making it no longer possible to sail it. “Nobody knows why they are left in such a bad condition. It doesn’t look like much, but there is also the danger that they pollute nature and the environment,” says Geers.
The municipality also regularly received complaints of nuisance and unsafety from the Aa en Maas Water Board and local residents. But simply removing the boats is not allowed. “We can now only enforce on the basis of the wreck law. So we are only allowed to remove stranded, sunken or partially sunken boats,” the councilor explains.
In recent weeks, the municipality has placed a letter on 75 wrecks and sunken boats stating that the boat would be removed. The self-built scaffolding will also be removed. To prevent boats from being built again.
“Removing the boats only costs the municipality money.”
“We notice that there are already fewer wrecks. That’s only a good thing. It is not about us removing the boats ourselves, because that would only cost the municipality money,” according to Geers. “It’s about ensuring that rivers and canals in Den Bosch are clean and safe.”
The first boats were lifted out of the river on Tuesday. Although that is not always easy. Because the sunken boats are difficult to lift out of the water due to their weight and some even fall apart due to old age. Removing and demolishing the boats costs the municipality a lot of money. Only afterwards will it become clear exactly how much that will ultimately be. “It depends on how many boats we have to remove.”
The other 165 boats may remain moored for now. A decision on this will be made later this year. Councilor Geers wants to find places where boats can be legally moored. So that residents of Den Bosch who have a boat can leave it there for a fee.
Is your boat also in Den Bosch or has it been removed? Then send us a mail.
Tags: municipality removes illegally built jetties boat wrecks
