The Festival Op de Ring is a logistical operation of epic proportions. Fifteen kilometers of highway will be closed during the weekend of June 21 for the event. AT5 spoke with environmental manager Remco Oudhoff about the challenges and took a behind-the-scenes look at the traffic control center of Rijkswaterstaat.
On Friday, June 20 at 9:00 PM, the A10 Ring (West, South, and East — between the exit to the A5 and the exit to the A1), as well as the connections with the A2 and A4, will be closed. The outer ring will remain open for emergency services and public transport. For safety reasons, several streets and bridges within the city will also be closed to car traffic.
Once the roads are closed on Friday evening at 9:00 PM, there’s no time to waste. “It’s a real challenge to build everything in one night,” says Oudhoff.
Another challenge is the crowds on Saturday. “To manage and monitor everything properly, we’ve set up a central coordination point where we can keep a close eye on traffic and visitor flows in the city,” Oudhoff explains. From this control room, the organization is in direct contact with the police, fire department, and public transport services. “If anything goes wrong, we can take immediate action from there.”
Extra Travel Time Expected
Oudhoff issues a clear warning: “It’s going to be very crowded in and around the city.”
He urges people to leave their cars at home and to come to the festival by bike, public transport, or on foot. “If you really have to drive, be prepared for more than an hour of extra travel time.” Regional traffic will be diverted via the A1/A9/A5.
“On Saturday evening, right after the festival, we’ll begin dismantling everything and cleaning the highway. All roads will reopen on Sunday, June 22 at 3:00 PM,” Oudhoff concludes.
