| Canal through Walcheren | |
|---|---|
 Looking toward Middelburg from a bridge at Souburg. | |
 | |
| Country | The Netherlands |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 16 kilometres (9.9 miles; 8.6 nautical miles) |
| Lock length | 140.7 m (462 ft)[1] |
| Lock width | 23.4 m (77 ft) |
| Maximumboat length | 130 m (427 ft)[2] |
| Maximumboat beam | 18 m (59.1 ft) |
| Maximumboat draft | 4.5 m (14.8 ft) |
| Maximumboat air draft | no limit |
| Original number of locks | 2 x 2 + safety lock gates |
| Status | operational |
| Navigation authority | Province Zeeland |
| History | |
| Construction began | 1870 |
| Date completed | 1873 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Veerse Meer atVeere |
| End point | Western Scheldt atVlissingen |
| Beginningcoordinates | 51°32′51.6″N3°40′20″E / 51.547667°N 3.67222°E /51.547667; 3.67222 |
| Endingcoordinates | 51°26′20″N3°36′11″E / 51.43889°N 3.60306°E /51.43889; 3.60306 |
| Branch(es) | Arnekanaal, Middelburg harbour |
| Connects to | Arnemuiden and Nieuw- en Sint Joosland |
TheCanal through Walcheren in theNetherlands crosses the east ofWalcheren. It connects theWesterschelde and theVeerse Meer.
In the 15th and 16th centuryMiddelburg, capital of Zeeland was booming. The city was onWalcheren Island, and had a connection to the sea just to the east via the small riverArne. In 1535 the Havenkanaal was opened,[3] and Middelburg continued in prosperity. However, in the 17th and 18th century Middelburg's connections to the sea all silted up.[4]
In 1809 KingLouis Bonaparte decided to construct the New Harbor Canal, which connected Middelburg toVeere. After the annexation by France this work was halted. After independence was regained in 1813, work continued. It was made possible by a national subsidy (a loan without interest) of 1,000,000 guilders. Middelburg would repay 25,000 guilders a year. The canal was opened in August 1817, but the prosperity of Middelburg was not restored.[5]
In 1871 theSloedam was constructed for theRoosendaal–Vlissingen railway. The dam connected the islands Walcheren andZuid-Beveland, and cut off the Sloe, which was the southern approach to Middelburg over water. Therefore, and to profit from the expected benefits of the railway, the new Canal through Walcheren was dug.
On the north side ofMiddelburg, the Canal through Walcheren follows the bed of the Havenkanaal (New Harbor Canal) of 1817.[5] In Middelburg the canal passed along the fortifications. Here it led to the demolishment of the Vlissingen Gate. In Vlissingen the canal was connected to extensive new harbour works.
The railroad entering Walcheren from the east does not cross this canal, but bends south and runs along it up to Vlissingen.
The canal is operational for shipping up toCEMT-class Va and recreational boating as well, the maximum speed is 20 kilometres per hour (12.4 miles per hour; 10.8 knots). All movable bridges (5) and sluices are remote controlled from a central point in Vlissingen, to be contacted byVHF.
North of the bridges in Middelburg is a branch to the harbour ofArnemuiden forCEMT-class II boats and after a mile on that canal an other branch to the harbour ofNieuw- en Sint Joosland for CEMT-class 0.
Excess waters (rain) from a part of Walcheren is discharged on the canal by a pumping station in Middelburg.
51°29′47″N3°37′09″E / 51.49639°N 3.61917°E /51.49639; 3.61917
