Oil found in the Zwarte Water near Hasselt
Oil was found in the Zwarte Water near Hasselt on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta went to the scene to assess the situation.
Published 29 September at 18:06
This language edition was prepared with AI from the Dutch source and checked for factual differences. If the versions differ, the Dutch text takes precedence.
It is not yet known where the oil came from. Rijkswaterstaat, which manages the Zwarte Water, has placed a floating boom on the water near the lock at the Prinsengracht. This is meant to stop more oil from flowing into Hasselt's town moat.
A small amount of oil has already reached the town moat. As a result, a thin layer of oil can be seen on the water in several places, and a faint smell may be noticeable. According to the water board, the quantity is too small to clean up. Sunlight and the flow of the water will cause the oil to break down naturally, which is expected to take two to three days given the current weather conditions.
The water board is monitoring the situation together with Rijkswaterstaat. Rijkswaterstaat is responsible for the Zwarte Water, while the water board is responsible for the water quality of the town moat.
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