Amsterdam-Rhine Canal

The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal is a canal between Amsterdam and Tiel (from the IJ to the Waal). It connects the port of Amsterdam with the Ruhr area (Germany) and is the busiest canal in the world.
Because the Merwede Canal, which was inaugurated in 1892, no longer met the requirements of the time after a few decades, the longer, wider and deeper Amsterdam-Rhine Canal was projected. The Merwede Canal was also a replacement for the Cologne Canal, which ran via the river Vecht. By raising the water level between Amsterdam and the river Lek to one level and thus omitting the locks, and by a shorter route, a significant saving of sailing time could be achieved. The capacity was also increased by a greater width and depth. The canal was designed by engineer Anton Mussert.


In 1931 it was laid down by law that the canal had to be built. Due to the crisis and the Second World War, construction was delayed. In 1952, the northern part of the Merwede Canal (between Amsterdam and Utrecht) was merged into the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. The part of the Merwedekanaal south of Utrecht largely remained in its original state and has retained its old name. A completely new canal was dug between Utrecht, Wijk bij Duurstede and Tiel. Between Jutphaas and Vreeswijk, the Lek canal has been dug as a tributary.


The entire canal was opened on 21 May 1952 and was widened between 1965 and 1981. In that year, it was opened for four-barge pusher tugs with a draught of up to 3.30 metres.

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