TheBeneden Merwede (Dutch pronunciation:[bəˌneːdəˈmɛrʋeːdə]; "Lower Merwede") is a stretch of river in theNetherlands, mainly fed by the riverRhine. It starts as the continuation of theBoven Merwede after the branching-off of theNieuwe Merwedeship canal. It flows fromHardinxveld-Giessendam toDordrecht, where it splits into theNoord andOude Maas rivers. Its length is 14.8 km.[1] The river is part of the main shipping route between the port ofRotterdam and the industrial region of theRuhr,Germany.
There is aroadbridge and, more to the east, arailroad bridge between therailway stations Dordrecht Stadspolders andHardinxveld-Giessendam on the line Dordrecht-Gorinchem.