Winschoterdiep
The Winschoterdiep is a canal in the Dutch province of Groningen . The canal runs from the connection to the Ems Canal near Groningen to Winschoten . Before Winschoten another canal branches off towards the Pekel Aa . The Winschoterdiep is 35.5 km long and has three locks , two of which are at the junction with the AG-Wildervanck Canal . The Winschoterdiep can be used by barges with up to 1300 t. 16 bridges span the canal.
The origin of the Winschoterdiep is the section that was created between 1618 and 1628 between Foxhol and Zuidbroek as a drainage canal . Between 1634 and 1636, this section was expanded to the west as far as the Hunze , and to the east as far as Winschoten and the Pekel Aa.
The route of the Winschoterdiep has been adapted several times over the years. If the end of the canal used to be in Oosterhaven in Groningen (part of the canal belt around downtown Groningen), today the canal joins the Van Starkenborgh Canal 1.5 km further east .
Between Hoogezand and Waterhuizen there are several shipyards that specialize in the construction of coasters . The width of these ships, however, is limited by the width of the Winschoterdiep bridges.
