In the Netherlands, vessels sprayed the Brug over de Noord bridge spanning the Noord River near Alblasserdam, following a standard operational procedure implemented by Rijkswaterstaat whenever temperatures exceed 25°C to 30°C. The cooling measure is designed to prevent steel expansion from jamming the bridge's moving parts, ensuring that the structure continues to function safely during periods of extreme heat.
The operation took place as Europe experienced one of its most severe heatwaves in recent years. The Netherlands recorded temperatures of 39.4°C, while Germany reached 41.5°C, with extreme conditions triggering widespread infrastructure challenges across several countries.
Does Dutch steel have lower melting point? I don't get it https://t.co/dLb6rqB7pn
— Lawrence Zhang 張樂翔 (@HistorianZhang) June 27, 2026
The prolonged heat caused roads to buckle, railway tracks to warp, and power plants to come under increasing operational strain, exposing the vulnerability of infrastructure originally designed for more moderate climatic conditions.
Although some observers have linked such emergency cooling measures to the growing economic impact of climate change, officials emphasized that spraying water on steel bridges is not a new response. Authorities stated that the practice has been used for years on multiple bridges throughout the Netherlands whenever high temperatures threaten the safe operation of movable bridge components.
The incident highlights how increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves are testing Europe's infrastructure, with long-established engineering practices being deployed more regularly as traditionally temperate regions face unprecedented thermal stress.
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