Maas-Waal Canal
Encyclopedia
The Maas-Waal canal is a canal in the Netherlands that connects the Meuse
(Dutch: Maas) to the Waal
. The channel is about 13.5 kilometers long and runs from Weurt
(west of Nijmegen) to the south and ends at Heumen. The connection of the Meuse and the Meuse-Waal canal is the tripoint between the provinces of Gelderland
, Limburg
and North Brabant
.
to Nijmegen to reach the German hinterland.
The consequences for the village Heumen were unmistakable. It became isolated in a hard to reach corner between the Meuse and the canal. The village of Neerbosch was cuf in half. The center of the village of Hatert
was torn down to make room for a bridge across the canal. The village 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 named "Dukenburg" on the other (Western) side of the canal. Less than 10 years, another new neighborhood, Lindenholt, was added in the area where the older part of Neerbosch had been. This resulted in 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.
, 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 Meuse 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, so the water level in the channel could be increased. This allowed container ships with four layers of containers
to use of the canal. 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 conseqences.
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
(Dutch: Maas) to the Waal
Waal
River Waal is the main distributary branch of river Rhine flowing to the central Netherlands for about before joining the Meuse near Woudrichem to form the Boven Merwede. It is a major river which serves as the main waterway connecting the Rotterdam harbor and Germany. Nijmegen, Tiel, Zaltbommel...
. The channel is about 13.5 kilometers long and runs from Weurt
Weurt
Weurt is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of Beuningen, and lies about 0.1 km West of Nijmegen.Weurt was a separate municipality until 1818, when it was merged with Beuningen....
(west of Nijmegen) to the south and ends at Heumen. The connection of the Meuse and the Meuse-Waal canal is the tripoint between the provinces of Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
, Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
and North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
.
History
The works for the canal began in 1920. On 27 October 1927, the canal was opened by HM Queen Wilhelmina. Before the canal was dug, ships had to make a detour of about 100 km to change from HeumenHeumen
Heumen is a municipality and a village in the eastern Netherlands.- Population centres :*Heumen*Malden *Molenhoek *Nederasselt*Overasselt-External links:*...
to Nijmegen to reach the German hinterland.
The consequences for the village Heumen were unmistakable. It became isolated in a hard to reach corner between the Meuse and the canal. The village of Neerbosch was cuf in half. The center of the village of Hatert
Hatert
Hatert is a suburb in the south of Nijmegen, in the Netherlands. It is situated between the centre of Nijmegen and the suburb of Dukenburg. It is renowned for its big shopping centre and the market every Wednesday attracts a lot of visitors from all over the town. It is a relatively new suburb...
was torn down to make room for a bridge across the canal. The village 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 named "Dukenburg" on the other (Western) side of the canal. Less than 10 years, another new neighborhood, Lindenholt, was added in the area where the older part of Neerbosch had been. This resulted in 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
Although the canal is located entirely in GelderlandGelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
, the management is in the hands of Rijkswaterstaat
Rijkswaterstaat
Rijkswaterstaat, founded in 1798 as the Bureau voor den Waterstaat, is part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the former Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management...
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 Meuse at Heumen is maintained at a constant level through a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
in Grave.
In 2007 and 2008 several bridges were jacked up by 25 to 35 cm, so the water level in the channel could be increased. This allowed container ships with four layers of containers
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
to use of the canal. 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 conseqences.
Bridges
From north to south, the Maas-Waal canal 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)