Merwede Canal
The Merwede Canal is a canal in the Dutch province of Utrecht . Starting in the city of Utrecht , it connects the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal with the Rhine arm Boven Merwede south of Gorinchem . The canal has a length of 35 kilometers. In its course it leads through the areas of Utrecht, Nieuwegein , Vijfheerenlanden and Gorinchem. The canal is crossed by the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal between Utrecht and Nieuwegein and the Lek River between Nieuwegein and Vianen .
history
The Merwede Canal originally ran from the eastern port area ( Dutch Oostelijk Havengebied ) of Amsterdam to Gorinchem. The decision to build the canal was made in 1881. After a construction period of 10 years, the new canal was officially put into operation in 1892. The canal was partly just a widening and deepening of existing canals such as the Keulse Vaart from 1825 . Between Utrecht and Vreeswijk the already existing canal was Vaartse Rijn from the 12th century used and between Vianen and Gorinchem the Zederikkanal . However, a new canal was dug between Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Locks were located in the Amsterdam district of Zeeburg , in Utrecht , in Vreeswijk , in Vianen and in Gorinchem .
Web links
- Merwedekanaal Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch)