the river Waal (in Germany called Rhine, from Gorinchem called Merwede)
Trafficpost Nijmegen in high water on the Rhine
The river Waal is a Dutch river. It is the biggest branch of the Rhine, that splits near Pannerden in two branches: the Pannerdensch Kanaal into the northern direction and the Waal into western direction. Het Pannerdens kanaal splits near Westervoort into two branches: to the north as IJssel, and in western direction to the western part of the country as Nederrijn. The Nederrijn is canalized (dams), sothat at low water levels the water can be guided via the IJssel and the Waal. Beyond Wijk bij Duurstede the Nederrijn is called Lek.
The Waal absorbs the biggest part of the Rhine water (65%) and is a major transport road for the inland shipping. The length if the Waal is 82 kilometer.
On the river Waal we organise the Lazy Afternoon Cruise with various routes, but we also have a full day programm with the Rijk van Nijmegen Cruise.
Beyond Woudrichem the river Waal met in former days the river Maas again, and is from there on called the Merwede. The water flows via various rivers to the North Sea. The major part via the Nieuwe Merwede and the Hollandsch Diep.
The Waal is connected with the Nederrijn and Amsterdam via the canal Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal (near Tiel), and with the Maas via the Maas-Waalkanaal (near Nijmegen) and the Kanaal van Sint Andries. Here the Waal and Maas are very close (1,9 kilometer).
The tides of the North Sea are noticed to town Zaltbommer, where the difference between high and low water is about 10 centimeter.
Cities situated on the borders of the Waal
The biggest town is university town Nijmegen. Originally situated on the south border they some years ago also are building on the north border. This development is called "Waalsprong".
Other larger cities are Tiel (famous for the Betuwe, a very attractive agricultural area) and Zaltbommel, De Waal also separates the Betuwe from the Rijk van Nijmegen, Land van Maas en Waal and Bommelerwaard. These are names of three completely different areas of land with strong local feelings.
Bridges over the Waal
Bridges over the Waal are:
The Waal absorbs the biggest part of the Rhine water (65%) and is a major transport road for the inland shipping. The length if the Waal is 82 kilometer.
On the river Waal we organise the Lazy Afternoon Cruise with various routes, but we also have a full day programm with the Rijk van Nijmegen Cruise.
Beyond Woudrichem the river Waal met in former days the river Maas again, and is from there on called the Merwede. The water flows via various rivers to the North Sea. The major part via the Nieuwe Merwede and the Hollandsch Diep.
The Waal is connected with the Nederrijn and Amsterdam via the canal Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal (near Tiel), and with the Maas via the Maas-Waalkanaal (near Nijmegen) and the Kanaal van Sint Andries. Here the Waal and Maas are very close (1,9 kilometer).
The tides of the North Sea are noticed to town Zaltbommer, where the difference between high and low water is about 10 centimeter.
Cities situated on the borders of the Waal
The biggest town is university town Nijmegen. Originally situated on the south border they some years ago also are building on the north border. This development is called "Waalsprong".
Other larger cities are Tiel (famous for the Betuwe, a very attractive agricultural area) and Zaltbommel, De Waal also separates the Betuwe from the Rijk van Nijmegen, Land van Maas en Waal and Bommelerwaard. These are names of three completely different areas of land with strong local feelings.
Bridges over the Waal
Bridges over the Waal are:
- In Nijmegen a bridge named Waalbrug, and a railway bridge for trains between Arnhem and Nijmegen
- motorway bridges near Ewijk (Herman de Man bridge) and Beneden-Leeuwen (Prins Willem-Alexanderbridge)
- In Zaltbommel motorway bridge Martinus Nijhoffbridge and a railway bridge Dr. W. Hupkesbridge.
