Could We Dredge the Netherlands Without Fossil Fuels?

The Netherlands dredges 30-35 million cubic meters of mud annually to maintain its waterways, essential for Europe's largest port and the country's economy, but modern dredging ships consume 3,000 liters of fuel per hour. Historically, the Dutch used manual labor, animal power, wind, and tidal power to dredge their waterways before fossil fuels became dominant. The article explores whether renewable energy sources could replace oil-powered dredging to make the industry more sustainable.