| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Designated | 29 August 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1273[1] |
TheHollands Diep (pre-1947 spelling: Hollandsch Diep) is a river in theNetherlands,[2] and anestuary of theRhine andMeuse rivers. Through theScheldt–Rhine Canal it connects to theScheldt river andAntwerp.
TheBergse Maas river and theNieuwe Merwede river join nearLage Zwaluwe to form the Hollands Diep. TheDordtsche Kil connects to it nearMoerdijk. NearNumansdorp it splits into theHaringvliet and theVolkerak.
The Hollands Diep was formed as a result of the extensive flood of 1216, which breached the dunes ofVoorne and created a deep saltwater inlet (the currentHaringvliet). During a second flood, the 1421St. Elizabeth floods, this inlet connected to theMerwede and became an important estuary of theRhine andMeuse rivers. From that moment on, the freshwater part of the estuary (east of the Hellegatsplein) was renamed Hollands Diep. The former riverStriene, that used to connect the Meuse with theScheldt, was completely destroyed by these floods and can no longer be recognised on maps.
At the point where the Hollands Diep splits, there is aroad traffic node on an artificial island (theHellegatsplein), connecting to theHoeksche Waard island on the north by the Haringvliet bridge, to theGoeree-Overflakkee on the west by the Hellegatsdam, and to the mainland on the southeast by the Volkerak Sluices.
On the east side of the Hollands Diep theMoerdijk bridges connect theDordrecht island on the north to the mainland on the south: aroadbridge, arailway bridge; a second railway bridge has recently been constructed for theHSL-Zuid.
51°42′00″N4°35′02″E / 51.70000°N 4.58389°E /51.70000; 4.58389
