Workers have flooded the final canal in the Houthaven neighborhood, officially surrounding the area’s last built islands with water from the IJ.
The milestone connects Karlskronaeiland and Libaueiland to the city’s broader waterway network, bringing an end to years of construction on bare sand for local residents.
A quick change of plans
The flooding process did not go entirely according to the initial schedule on site.
Crews originally planned to pull a temporary steel sheet pile wall out of the ground using a crane to let the river water flow in.
When the barrier proved stuck, contractors switched to an alternative plan and cut an opening directly through the steel structure.
Once the cut was made, water filled the empty canal bed much faster than the expected two days, reaching normal levels within an hour.
Transforming the former timber port
The event marks a significant step in the long-term redevelopment of the former industrial timber harbor in Westelijk Havengebied.
The Municipality of Amsterdam designed the neighborhood around seven artificial islands, aiming to recreate a modern interpretation of the city’s traditional canal structure.
Most of the new residential buildings in the area feature direct access to the water, with space for small boats and private jetties.
With the final waterways now open, the city is shifting its focus to completing the remaining public spaces, bridges, and streetscapes across the district.
