BELFELD WEIR AND LOCK COMPLEX

The Meuse is a real rain river. In the past, the stream could swell into a mighty swirling mass that drags everything along, and at other times there was little left but a babbling stream. Yes, that's how the Meuse was.
In the early 20th century, the call for better regulated water drainage for the benefit of shipping became increasingly louder. In order to keep the water level more controllable, it was decided to build weirs and locks at a number of places in the river. The weirs had to keep the water at the right level, while the locks had to allow the passage of ships.
In order to achieve the desired depth, the Meuse was divided into 'buildings' in which the water was maintained by impoundment. To this end, five movable weirs were planned at Linne (weir level 20.40 m), Roermond (16.75 m), Belfeld (14 m), Afferden (10.75 m) and Grave (7.50 m). At high tide, the weirs could be opened completely, so that the river could then have its free course.
For the benefit of shipping, a lock was built next to each weir with a length of 260 m, a width of 14 m and a threshold depth of 3.30 m at the lowest expected water level.

At the photo: Weir and lock complex at Belfeld

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