The Amsterdam water board Waternet is spending tens of thousands of euros a year renting back bridge keepers’ houses from a hotel chain because a plan to monitor bridges remotely has flopped.

The Parool reported at the weekend that Waternet has also resorted to using containers and other temporary accommodation because of the contract with the hotel – which rents the rooms out for hundreds of euros per night.

The situation dates back 15 years, when the city decided that all the 40 bridges which open to let through shipping should be monitored and operated remotely. Staffing levels could be slashed and, at the same time, the city could earn money renting some 25 of the bridge houses to a hotel.

But the plan, which bridge keepers warned about at the time, has failed due to a string of technical issues and accidents, prompting the city to take action. The bridges and sluice gates are now again operated by hand at nine key locations.

SP councillors have now asked city waterways chief Melanie van der Horst to explain exactly what it has cost to replace the bridge houses.

According to the Parool, the hotel chain was paid over €70,000 in 2021 and 2022 to rent back two houses. In addition, the city has spent thousands of euros on locating containers at other key positions, such as on the banks of the Amstel by the Carre theatre.