The Amsterdam–Rhine Canal (
Dutch:
''Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal'') is a
canal
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface ...
in the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
that was built to connect the
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...
and capital city of
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
to the main shipping artery of the
Rhine
The Rhine ( ) is one of the List of rivers of Europe, major rivers in Europe. The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps. It forms part of the Swiss-Liechtenstein border, then part of the Austria–Swit ...
. Its course follows a generally southeasterly direction as it goes through the city of
Utrecht
Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...
towards
Wijk bij Duurstede
Wijk bij Duurstede () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a city in the central Netherlands.
Population centres
*Cothen
*Langbroek
*Wijk bij Duurstede
Topography
''Dutch Topographic map of the municipality of Wijk bij Du ...
where it intersects the
Lek branch of the Rhine and then continues on to the river
Waal
WAAL (99.1 FM broadcasting, FM; "The Whale") is a commercial radio, commercial radio station licensed to Binghamton, New York. It airs a classic rock radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. WAAL is the oldest FM radio station continuou ...
near
Tiel
Tiel () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a town in the middle of the Netherlands. The town is enclosed by the Waal (river), Waal river and the Linge river to the South and the North, and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal to the Eas ...
, with a branch, the ''Lek Canal'', to the Lek near
Nieuwegein.
The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal is the world's most frequented artificial waterway with an annual average of 100,000 ships.
References
Canals in the Netherlands
Canals opened in 1952
Canals in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta
Canals in North Holland
Canals in Utrecht (province)
Canals in Amsterdam
Buildings and structures in Utrecht (city)
Transport in Utrecht (city)
Wijk bij Duurstede
{{Netherlands-transport-stub