Waaltje
TheWaaltje(common name; Dutch forLittle Waal) is a dammed river in the westernNetherlands,southeast ofRotterdam.Historically it used to be the western end of theWaal river,hence its official name continues to be theWaal,although the intermediate Waal sections, theBoven Merwede,Beneden Merwede,and a subsection of theNoord,have long changed their names.
The water
[edit]The Waaltje marks the border between theZwijndrechtse Waard,formerly a separate island, and the historicIsland of IJsselmonde.Ever since this section of the Waal was dammed, IJsselmonde also encompasses the Zwijndrechtse Waard (see map to the right).
The Waaltje runs fromHendrik-Ido-Ambacht,alongOostendam,throughRijsoord,and alongBarendrechttoHeerjansdam.In Heerjansdam it now connects to theOude Maasthrough a pumping station. In 1332William I, Count of Hainauthad the Waal dammed at Oostendam. The Waaltje connected to theNoordthrough the old port of Ambacht and alockthat enabled riverboats to pass the Oostendam until the 20th century. Since then, no sailing connection is available.
More recently, the old port of Ambacht has also been dammed on the northeast side, transforming it into another enclosed section of the old Waal.
Bridges, roads and paths
[edit]The Waaltje is crossed by a highway, theA16,therailway between Rotterdam and Dordrecht,theHSLand theBetuweroute.TheA15runs between the A16 and theNoordto the north of the Waaltje.
Along the eastern bank of the Waaltje in Heerjansdam, between the clubhouse of the business association and the restaurant, volunteers from among others the environmental association Heerjansdam created an educational nature trail named Waalpad. Other walking trails along the Waaltje can be found in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, along the Kerkstraat and between Oordenweg and Jaapgpad. Nature development Wevershoek in Barendrecht also offers opportunities to walk along the Waaltje.
Management and direct uses
[edit]The Waaltje is managed by thewater boardHollandse Delta.Its waters are on the clear end. It is used for boating,[1]amateur fishing,[2]diving, swimming[3]and ice skating.[4]
References
[edit]- ^"Nachtdieren langer op door wintertijd".RTV Rijnmond.Retrieved15 February2016.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2016-02-24.Retrieved2016-02-15.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^Jorritsma, Elsje (8 January 2016)."DE ONSTUITBARE OPKOMST VAN DE OPENWATERZWEMMERS".NRC Handelsblad.
- ^"Legendarisch schaatsmoment een feit!".Ambacht.net.9 January 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2018.Retrieved19 February2018.
Door aanhoudende felle kou was het vorige week al mogelijk om de ijzers onder te binden, maar nog niet eerder in tien jaar is het voor gekomen dat zelfs ijs het Waaltje bedekte. [...] De verwachting is dat tot tenminste maandag (12/1) het ijs schaatsbaar blijft.
External links
[edit]- Waaltje pagewith photos and text in Dutch
- Waaltje pageat Nature Friends of IJsselmonde