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 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 alongBarendrecht toHeerjansdam. In Heerjansdam it now connects to theOude Maas through a pumping station. In 1332William I, Count of Hainaut had the Waal dammed at Oostendam. The Waaltje connected to theNoord through the old port of Ambacht and alock that 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.
The Waaltje is crossed by a highway, theA16, therailway between Rotterdam and Dordrecht, theHSL and theBetuweroute. TheA15 runs between the A16 and theNoord to 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.
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. Recently the diving school Before the corals has started operating in the vicinity of het Waaltje.[4]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)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.
51°51′17″N4°34′48″E / 51.8548°N 4.5799°E /51.8548; 4.5799