Maas–Waal Canal

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.

Maas–Waal Canal
Aerial view of the river Maas and the Maas–Waal Canal near Heumen
Location of the Maas–Waal Canal
Specifications
Length13.5 km (8.4 miles)
Locks2
Statusopen
History
Construction began1920
Date completed1927
Date extended1970
Geography
Start pointWeurt
End pointHeumen

History

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
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

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
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References
  • 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

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

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