Bridge closed, Tour, wallaby and race (Monday, July 20)

The Merwede Bridge near Gorinchem is closed for vehicles over 3.5 tons. According to the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, the bridge will probably remain closed until the end of the summer. Trucks have to take a detour, which costs more time and money.

Furthermore, Mayor Dijsselbloem and the Ministry of Defense offered apologies after the Hercules disaster. That disaster happened thirty years ago.

Remco Evenepoel won the fifteenth stage in the Tour de France. He stayed ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Isaac del Toro in an uphill sprint. Jonas Vingegaard crashed hard and withdrew from the Tour.

Belgium is considering withdrawing an order for two frigates. Minister Francken says that delivery takes too long and the price has risen significantly. The first ship will be ready at the earliest in 2033.

On Sunday, an escaped wallaby roamed around in Middenmeer, but the animal was caught later. The police warned road users and asked residents not to catch the animal themselves. Also, Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.