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Volunteer Patrol Checks 100 km Dikes, Warns Peat Weakening

8/4/2026

36 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Volunteer dike patrols led by Peter van Duijvendijk inspected 100 km of dikes with 140 volunteers, finding no major cracks.
Dry peat in dikes near Waddinxveen is weakening, raising the risk of water entering reclaimed polder land.
Water agencies have banned canal irrigation in some areas, prompting chair John Kusters to call 2026 an extremely challenging year.

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Story summary

Volunteer dike patrols led by Peter van Duijvendijk inspected 100 km of dikes with 140 volunteers, finding no major cracks.
Dry peat in dikes near Waddinxveen is weakening, raising the risk of water entering reclaimed polder land.
Water agencies have banned canal irrigation in some areas, prompting chair John Kusters to call 2026 an extremely challenging year.