Maas–Waal Canal

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Maas–Waal Canal

Aerial view of the river Maas and the Maas–Waal Canal near Heumen

Location of the Maas–Waal Canal

Specifications
Length| 13.5 km (8.4 miles)
Locks| 2
Status| open
History
Construction began| 1920
Date completed| 1927
Date extended| 1970
Geography
Start point| Weurt
End point| Heumen

The Maas–Waal Canal (Dutch: Maas–Waalkanaal) is a canal in the Netherlands that connects the river Meuse (Dutch: Maas) to the river Waal. The channel is about 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) long and runs from Weurt (west of Nijmegen) to the south and ends at Heumen. The connection of the Meuse and the Maas–Waal Canal is the tripoint between the provinces of Gelderland, Limburg and North Brabant.

## History

[edit]

Construction on the canal began in 1920. On 27 October 1927, the waterway was officially opened by HM Queen Wilhelmina. Before the canal was dug, ships had to make a detour of about 100 km (62 mi) to change from Heumen to Nijmegen to reach the German hinterland; the new route shortened the trip to ~12 km (7.5 mi).

The consequences for the village of Heumen were unmistakable. It became isolated in a hard to reach corner between the Meuse and the canal. The village of Neerbosch was cut in half, and the centre of the village of Hatert was torn down to make room for a bridge across the canal. The village also lost its church and both pubs.

In 1970, it was decided to widen the canal at an estimated cost of 117 million Dutch guilders (53 million euro). At around the same time, the city of Nijmegen decided to construct a new neighborhood, Dukenburg, on the far (Western) side of the canal. Less than 10 years later, another neighborhood, Lindenholt, was added in the area where the older part of Neerbosch had been. This left the canal lying largely inside the built-up area of Nijmegen.

In 2002, H. van Eeuwijk and G. J. Nillesen published their booklet Three-quarter Century of Maas–Waal Canal 1927–2002 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the connection between the Maas and Waal.

## Water level

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Aerial view of the river Maas and the Maas–Waal Canal near Heumen

Although the canal is located entirely in Gelderland, the management is in the hands of Rijkswaterstaat directorate Limburg. There is a lock in Weurt, and another one in Heumen, but the latter is almost always open. This is because the water of the Maas at Heumen is maintained at a constant level through a weir in Grave.

In 2007 and 2008 several bridges were jacked up by 25 to 35 cm (9.8 to 13.8 in), so the water level in the channel could be increased. This allowed container ships with four layers of containers to use of the canal.[1] Raising the water level in the canal will lead to higher groundwater levels in areas directly adjacent to the canal. Rijkswaterstaat will construct a drainage system to prevent possible negative consequences.

## Bridges

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From north to south, the Maas–Waal Canal is bridged by the following roads:

* Industrieweg (across the lock at Weurt)
* Neerbosscheweg (called the "Neerbossche Brug")
* Graafseweg (called the "Graafse Brug")
* New Dukenburgseweg (called the "Dukenburgse Brug")
* Hatertseweg (called the "Hatertse Brug")
* Blankenbergseweg (called "the Hoge Brug")
* Jan J. Luden Avenue (across the lock at Heumen)

* Graafsebrug and railway bridge

* Railway bridge

* Dukenburg bridge

* Hatertse Bridge

* Joining the Meuse

The Maas–Waal Canal as seen from Malden

## References

[edit]

* van Eeuwijk, H.; Nillesen, G.J. (2002), Driekwart eeuw Maas–Waalkanaal 1927–2002 [Three-quarter Century of Maas–Waal Canal 1927–2002] (in Dutch), ISBN 9090162895

## External links

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* Current Information – Public Works
* Channels in the Netherlands – Maas–Waal Canal

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ City of Nijmegen – Bridges over Maas–Waal Canal jacked up

51°48′1″N 5°49′14″E﻿ / ﻿51.80028°N 5.82056°E﻿ / 51.80028; 5.82056

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Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta

Rhine
Rijn
Rhin

Current distributaries

Waal
Nederrijn
IJssel
Lek
Merwede
Boven Merwede
Nieuwe Merwede
Beneden Merwede
Oude Maas
Dordtsche Kil
Noord
Nieuwe Maas
Scheur
Nieuwe Waterweg

Former distributaries

Kromme Rijn
Leidse Rijn
Oude Rijn
Hollandse IJssel
Vecht
Waaltje
Brielse Maas
Spui

Current estuaries

Nieuwe Waterweg
IJsselmeer

Former estuaries

Hollands Diep
Haringvliet
Volkerak
Krammer
Grevelingen
Keeten-Mastgat
Oosterschelde

Associated canals

Bijlands Kanaal
Pannerdens Kanaal
Amsterdam–Rhine Canal
Vaartse Rijn
Nieuwe Merwede
Nieuwe Waterweg
Scheldt–Rhine Canal
Maas–Waal Canal

Meuse
Maas|

Current distributaries
Bergse Maas
Amer

Former distributaries
Oude Maasje
Afgedamde Maas
Merwede
Boven Merwede
Beneden Merwede
Oude Maas
Dordtsche Kil
Noord
Nieuwe Maas
Scheur
Nieuwe Waterweg

Current estuaries

Former estuaries

Hollands Diep
Haringvliet
Volkerak
Krammer
Grevelingen
Keeten-Mastgat
Oosterschelde

Associated canals

Heusden Canal
Bergse Maas
Maas–Waal Canal

Scheldt
Schelde
Escaut|

Current distributaries

Western Scheldt

Former distributaries

Oosterschelde
Eendracht

Current estuaries

Western Scheldt

Former estuaries

Oosterschelde
Krammer
Grevelingen

Associated canals

Scheldt–Rhine Canal
Canal through Zuid-Beveland
Canal through Walcheren

Other rivers
(directly draining
into the delta)|

* Linge
* Mark
* Donge
* Rotte
* Oude IJssel

Islands and
Peninsulas|

* Rozenburg
* IJsselmonde
* Het Eiland van Dordt
* Voorne and Putten
* Hoeksche Waard
* Tiengemeten
* Goeree-Overflakkee
* Schouwen-Duiveland
* Tholen
* Sint Philipsland
* Walcheren
* Noord-Beveland
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Towns|

* Rotterdam
* Antwerp
* Dordrecht
* Bergen-op-Zoom
* Schiedam
* Vlissingen
* Vlaardingen
* Middelburg
* Spijkenisse

Other topics|

* Delta Works
* Verdronken Land van Reimerswaal
* Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe
* St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)
* St. Felix's Flood
* All Saints' Flood (1570)

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* VIAF

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