The Reevediep is a new water connection between the IJssel and the Drontermeer. This high-water channel is there to drain high water from the IJssel in extreme circumstances via the Drontermeer and the Vossemeer to the IJsselmeer. With the arrival of the Reevediep, a large part of the area south of Kampen has changed.

Construction phase

To allow the water to flow through the high-water channel, an inlet has been built on the side of the IJssel. Water retaining dikes have been constructed south and north of the channel. The sand released during the summer bed lowering of the IJssel was used for the construction of these dikes in the Reevediep. In addition, a recreational lock has been built to allow boats to enter the Reevediep from the IJssel. And a bridge has been built over the Reevediep, the Nieuwendijk Bridge. During the construction of the Reevediep, aerial photographs were taken, which clearly show the changes. The Reevediep was put into use at the beginning of 2019.

To ensure that high water does not end up in the Randmeer, a lock, the Reevesluis, is being built between Flevoland and Overijssel, just south of the Reevediep. This is located in the southern part of the Drontermeer and will eventually replace the Roggebotsluis. Work is currently still underway on the Reevesluis.

Different objects

Several new objects were built during the construction of the Reevediep. Residents of Kampen were allowed to come up with the name for the inlet work, the recreational lock on the IJssel side, the bridge over the N50 and the new lock in the Drontermeer. The Nieuwendijk Bridge had already been opened earlier and therefore already had a name. More than 150 different names were devised and more than 500 votes were cast via website, post and digital newsletter.

The objects were given the following names:

• the intake work: Het Lange End

• the bridge over the N50: the Reevediepbrug

• the Recreation Lock: the Scheeres Lock

• the Reevesluis remains the Reevesluis