The Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta is a river delta in the Netherlands formed by the confluence of the Rhine , the Meuse ( Dutch : Maas ) and the Scheldt rivers . In some cases, the Scheldt delta is considered a separate delta to the Rhine–Meuse delta. The result is a multitude of islands , branches and branch names, in which a waterway that appears to be one continuous stream may have numerous separate names for different sections, e.g. Rhine → Bijlands Kanaal → Pannerdens Kanaal → Nederrijn → Lek → Nieuwe Maas → Het Scheur → Nieuwe Waterweg . Since the Rhine contributes most of the water, the term "Rhine Delta" is commonly used, although this name is also used for the delta where the Alpine Rhine flows into Lake Constance . By some calculations, the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta covers 25,347 km (9,787 sq mi), making it the largest in Europe.
57-567: The Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta is economically extremely important, since the three rivers are major navigable waterways . The delta is the entrance from the North Sea to the German and Central European hinterland (and to a lesser extent France ). Major ports in the delta are Rotterdam , Antwerp (Belgium), Vlissingen , Amsterdam (through the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal ), and Ghent (through
114-479: A UNESCO World Heritage Site , the oldest known waterway system in the world, is considered to be one of the world's largest and most extensive project of engineering . The European Conference of Ministers of Transport established in 1953 a classification of waterways that was later expanded to take into account the development of push-towing. Europe is a continent with a great variety of waterway characteristics, which makes this classification valuable to appreciate
171-680: A border town and had to endure multiple sieges. In 1678 Nijmegen was host to the negotiations between the European powers that aimed to put an end to the constant warfare that had ravaged the continent for years. The result was the Treaty of Nijmegen that failed to provide for a lasting peace. In 1702, at the start of the War of the Spanish Succession , the French nearly took Nijmegen by surprise. Only because of
228-487: A regional body . Since 2021 this has been the Arnhem-Nijmegen Green Metropolitan Region ( Dutch : Groene Metropoolregio Arnhem-Nijmegen ), which aids co-operation in planning and development in the region's eighteen municipalities. Nijmegen is twinned with: Nijmegen has hosted since 1925 the annual Four Days Marches (Vierdaagse), as a means of promoting sport and exercise. Beginning on
285-562: A council of 39 councillors, elected every four years. After the 2022 municipal elections, the three largest parties, GroenLinks (9 seats), Stadspartij Nijmegen (7 seats) and the D66 (6 seats) formed a coalition. Since 2012 the mayor has been Hubert Bruls of the Christian Democratic Appeal party (CDA), the city council approving a third six-year term from 2024. In addition to the city council, since 1988 Nijmegen has been part of
342-686: A good view over the river Waal and Rhine valley. By 69, when the Batavi , the original inhabitants of the Rhine and Meuse ( Maas ) delta, revolted , a village called Oppidum Batavorum had formed near the Roman camp. This village was destroyed in the revolt, but when it had ended the Romans built another, bigger camp where the Legio X Gemina was stationed. Soon after, another village formed around this camp. In 98, Nijmegen
399-399: A helicopter, 1,200 policemen, and 750 members of the armed forces, they evicted the squatters and demolished the block, while clouding the entire area in teargas and CS gas . This received enormous backlash in local politics. While the city government wanted the squatters out to build a parking garage, most of the population wanted affordable housing to be built in the area. The city council
456-473: A hundred fans and Mayor Hubert Bruls after winning Division B of the 2018 Bandy World Championship . The city is also home to one of the country's oldest cricket clubs, Quick 1888 , a current member of the KNCB . Formed in 1888, it is the largest cricket club in the east of the country and was formed 13 years after the first club, Utile Dulci from Deventer . The cricket club has two men's teams. The city also has
513-569: A lake, or perhaps water running to Flevum on the coast may have run via the lakes to the coast, perhaps first through an ancient version of the Vecht , or the IJssel . The IJssel however was joined to the Rhine artificially, by Drusus , and is quite far from any of the places known to be called Flevus. Suetonius says that this channel was still referred to as Drusus' fossa in his time. Some authors have argued that
570-503: A lock and diverted into a new outlet called the " Bergse Maas ", then the Amer flowing into the former bay known as the Hollands Diep . The northwestern part of the estuary (around Hook of Holland ), is still called Maasmond ("Meuse Mouth"), ignoring the fact that it now carries only water from the Rhine. This might explain the confusing naming of the various branches. The hydrography of
627-415: A suburban village south-east of Nijmegen. During the 2006 European heat wave , closest official weather station Volkel reached a high of 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) on 19 July. The heat wave coincided with that year's Four Day Marches, which were cancelled after the first day, when two people died of hyperthermia -related causes. Temperatures on that day, 18 July, reached around 36 °C (96.8 °F) in
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#1733085254550684-600: A university city with the opening of a Catholic institution now known as the Radboud University Nijmegen . The city is well known for the annual International Four Days Marches Nijmegen event. Its population as of 2024 was 187,011. The municipality is formed by the city of Nijmegen, incorporating the former villages of Hatert , Hees and Neerbosch, as well as the urban expansion projects in Veur-Lent , Nijmegen-Oosterhout and Nijmegen–Ressen , all situated north of
741-554: A waterway to be navigable , it must meet several criteria: Vessels using waterways vary from small animal -drawn barges to immense ocean tankers and ocean liners , such as cruise ships . In order to increase the importance of inland waterway transport, the European Commission presented a 35-point action plan in June 2021. The main goals are to increase the amount of goods moved through Europe's rivers and canals and to speed up
798-545: Is one of the warmest cities of the Netherlands, especially during summer, when the highest temperatures in the country are usually measured in the triangle Roermond–Nijmegen–Eindhoven. The lack of north–south oriented mountain ranges in Europe make this area prone to sudden shifts in weather, giving the region a semi-continental climate. Some of the northernmost wineries in the world are found just outside Nijmegen, around Groesbeek ,
855-652: Is the function of ship canals . Dredged channels in the sea are not usually described as waterways. There is an exception to this initial distinction, essentially for legal purposes, see under international waters . Where seaports are located inland, they are approached through a waterway that could be termed "inland" but in practice is generally referred to as a "maritime waterway" (examples Seine Maritime, Loire Maritime , Seeschiffahrtsstraße Elbe). The term "inland waterway" refers to navigable rivers and canals designed to be used by inland waterway craft only, implicitly of much smaller dimensions than seagoing ships. In order for
912-587: Is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the tenth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal River close to the German border , Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and the first to be recognized as such in Roman times. In 2005, it celebrated 2,000 years of existence. Nijmegen became a free imperial city in 1230 and in 1402 a Hanseatic city. Since 1923 it has been
969-738: The Ghent–Terneuzen Canal ). The land areas in the delta are protected from flooding by the Dutch Delta Works . The shape of the Rhine delta is determined by two bifurcations : firstly, at Millingen aan de Rijn , the Rhine splits into the Waal and the Nederrijn , and secondly near Arnhem , the IJssel branches off from the Nederrijn. This creates three main flows, two of which change names rather often. The largest and southern main branch begins as
1026-727: The Hanseatic League in 1364. The arts also flourished in this period. Famous medieval painters like the Limbourg brothers were born and educated in Nijmegen. Some of Hieronymus Bosch 's ancestors also came from the city. During the Dutch Revolt , trade came to a halt and even though Nijmegen became a part of the Republic of United Provinces after its capture from the Spanish in 1591 , it remained
1083-960: The Nieuwe Merwede ("New Merwede"), which branches off from the southern branch where it changes from the Boven to the Beneden Merwede; the Oude Maas ("Old Meuse"), which branches off from the southern branch where it changes from the Benede Merwede into the Noord, and the Dordtsche Kil , which branches off from the Oude Maas. Before the St. Elizabeth's flood (1421) the Meuse flowed just south of today's line Merwede–Oude Maas to
1140-649: The Nijmegen Devils , an Ice hockey club. Nijmegen also plays host to the annual Zevenheuvelenloop ( Seven Hills Run ), an annual 15 km (9 mi) run recognised by the IAAF as a Bronze Label race. The three main employers in Nijmegen are: 1. Radboud University ; 2. The three hospitals in the city: Radboud University Medical Center , Sint Maartenskliniek , and Canisius-Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis (CWZ); 3. The semiconductor industry. Nexperia and Ampleon (both spun off from NXP Semiconductors ) are headquartered in
1197-598: The Ruhr region) is about 78 km (48.5 mi) away, while the German town of Kleve (in the Lower Rhine region ) is about 20 km (12.4 mi) away. The first mention of Nijmegen in history is in the first century BCE, when the Romans built a military camp on the place where Nijmegen was to appear; the location had great strategic value because of the surrounding hills, which give
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#17330852545501254-415: The river Waal . The city lies a few kilometers from the border with Germany, and to some extent the westernmost villages in the municipality of Kranenburg , Germany, function as dormitories for people who work in the Dutch city of Nijmegen in part due to the immigration of Dutch people from the region who were attracted by the lower house pricing just across the border. The German city of Duisburg (in
1311-410: The 1950s, 60s and 70s who finished the demolition. There are still a few noteworthy sights, however. Valkhof hill downtown features a Carolingian chapel (eighth, ninth century AD) and a small remainder of an imperial castle that was demolished in 1798. The 750-year old Stevenskerk had to be reconstructed after WWII. As of 2023, Nijmegen has a total population of about 182,465. The city is governed by
1368-565: The Dutch government in exile. The Dutch organization for investigating wartime atrocities, the NIOD , announced in January 2005 that its study of the incident confirmed that it was an accident caused by poor communications and chaos in the airspace. Over 750 people died in the bombardment. During September 1944, the city saw heavy fighting during Operation Market Garden . The objective of the Battle of Nijmegen
1425-563: The Netherlands was invaded by Germany, with Nijmegen being the first Dutch city to fall into German hands. On 22 February 1944, Nijmegen was heavily bombed by American planes, causing great damage to the city centre. It was subsequently claimed by the Allies that the American pilots thought they were bombing the German city of Kleve , while the Germans alleged that it was a planned operation authorised by
1482-644: The North Sea and formed an archipelago -like estuary with the Waal and the Lek. This system of numerous bays, estuary-like extended rivers, many islands and constant changes of the coastline, is hard to imagine today. From 1421 to 1904, the Meuse and the Waal merged further upstream at Gorinchem to form the Merwede . For flood protection reasons, the Meuse was separated from the Waal through
1539-924: The Waal and continues as the Boven Merwede ("Upper Merwede"), the Beneden Merwede ("Lower Merwede"), the Noord River ("North River"), the Nieuwe Maas ("New Meuse"), Het Scheur ("the Rip") and the Nieuwe Waterweg ("New Waterway"). The middle flow begins as the Nederrijn , then changes into the Lek , then joins the Noord, thereby forming the Nieuwe Maas. The northern flow keeps the name IJssel until it flows into Lake IJsselmeer . Three more flows carry significant amounts of water:
1596-644: The Waalsprong area, ruins from before the Roman times were found which were identified in 2022 as those of a sauna. This 3,600 year-old sauna is the first of its kind in mainland Europe. Not many very old buildings are left in town: first the Americans bombed it in February 1944, later the Germans shelled it for about five months after the liberation in September 1944, and finally there were a number of vigorous city planners in
1653-556: The bridge were positioned in a bombed-out house slightly upstream of the bridge. During the shelling, the house was hit, killing six soldiers and wounding one. Nijmegen was liberated from German occupation by the British Grenadier Guards of the Guards Armoured Division , as well as elements of the American 82nd Airborne Division in September 1944. The city was later used as a springboard for Operation Veritable ,
1710-500: The city of Maastricht . In November 2005, the city centre of Nijmegen was the site of the assassination of political activist Louis Sévèke by a former activist, Marcel Teunissen, who was arrested in 2007 in Spain and extradited to the Netherlands. Teunissen has also been accused of bank robbery. He committed his acts out of revenge for a forcible eviction from the squatter scene by Louis Sévèke. Nijmegen has an oceanic climate ( Cfb ). It
1767-506: The city. Few Roman remains are visible today; a fragment of the old city wall can be seen near the casino and the foundations of the amphitheatre are traced in the paving of the present-day Rembrandtstraat. The Valkhof Museum , on the Valkhof, has a permanent display of the history of Nijmegen, including artifacts from the Roman era. Additionally, they usually have temporary exhibitions of more and less famous artists. During building works in
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1824-439: The city. Multinational companies such as Qualcomm , Photronics Inc , and Applied Materials also have facilities in Nijmegen. Other notable companies headquartered in Nijmegen include Synthon , a Dutch multinational pharmaceutical company and Vaxxinova , an EW group subsidiary which produces animal vaccines. To prevent flooding in the near future, the Dutch government is changing the course of more than 30 rivers throughout
1881-449: The credibility of the church". The signatories, a group of predominantly German-speaking theologians asserted that "the freedom of theologians, and theology in the service of the church, regained by Vatican II , must not be jeopardised again." The signatories pledged their loyalty to the Pope, but argued that the teaching office of pope and bishops "cannot and must not supersede, hamper and impede
1938-403: The current Radboud University Nijmegen was founded and in 1927 a channel was dug between the Waal and Meuse ( Maas ) rivers. The Waal was bridged in 1878 by a rail bridge and in 1936 by a road bridge , which was claimed to be Europe's biggest bridge at the time. In November 2013 a second road bridge ( Dutch : De Oversteek ), 2 km downstream, was opened to ease congestion. In 1940,
1995-401: The current delta is characterized by the delta's main arms, disconnected arms ( Hollandse IJssel , Linge , Vecht , etc.) and smaller rivers and streams. Many rivers have been closed ("dammed") and now serve as drainage channels for the numerous polders . The construction of Delta Works changed the delta in the second half of the 20th century fundamentally. Currently Rhine water runs into
2052-469: The defence of the Netherlands. When events in the Franco-Prussian war proved that old-fashioned fortifications were no longer of use, this policy was changed and the fortifications were dismantled in 1874. The old castle had already been demolished in 1797, so that its bricks could be sold. Through the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, Nijmegen grew steadily. In 1923
2109-449: The details are no longer clear, there was apparently sometimes an extension of the Old IJ that came close to the North Sea here. But the term Flevo was also have used by Pomponius Mela to refer to the fresh water lakes which were in the area of the modern Zuiderzee , which Mela specifically says that the Rhine fed into. So the Rhine mouth mentioned by Pliny might have been a discharge into
2166-648: The different classes in waterway. There is also a remarkable variety of waterway characteristics in many countries of Asia, but there has not been any equivalent international drive for uniformity. This classification is provided by the UN Economic Commission for Europe , Inland Transport Committee, Working Party on Inland Water Transport. A low resolution version of that map is shown here. Nijmegen Nijmegen ( / ˈ n aɪ m eɪ ɡ ən / NY -may-gən , Dutch: [ˈnɛimeːɣə(n)] ; Nijmeegs : Nimwèège [ˈnɪmβ̞ɛːçə] )
2223-511: The emperor Louis the Pious was sent to Nijmegen by his son, Lothair I . Thanks to the Waal , trade flourished. Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor , was born at Nijmegen in 1165. In 1230 his son Frederick II granted Nijmegen city rights . In 1247, the city was ceded to the count of Guelders as collateral for a loan. The loan was never repaid, and Nijmegen has been a part of Gelderland ever since. This did not hamper trade; Nijmegen even became part of
2280-504: The intervention of an Anglo-Dutch army under the Earl of Athlone and the bravery of the citizens of Nijmegen was the Assault on Nijmegen repulsed. In the second half of the 19th century, the fortifications around the city became a major problem. There were too many inhabitants inside the walls, but the fortifications could not be demolished because Nijmegen was deemed as being of vital importance to
2337-617: The invasion across the Rhine River by Allied Troops. From 1946 to 1948 Mariënbosch concentration camp , near Nijmegen, was used to house German nationals who were to be deported from the Netherlands. On 23 February 1981, the Nijmegen police department and the Dutch Army stormed the Piersonstraat and Zeigelhof, a squatted housing block in the city centre of Nijmegen. Using 200 riot vans, three Leopard 1s , three armoured personnel carriers ,
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2394-503: The list of other peoples who he says are stretched out along 100 Roman miles , between the mouth of the Helinius (understood to be the main mouth of the Meuse , where the Waal ( Latin : Vacalis ) also discharged) and the Roman fortification at Flevum (a port north of the Old Rhine ). The Roman castrum at Flevum was mentioned by Tacitus, and is equated today with Velsen . Although
2451-534: The mouth Pliny mentions is the Vlie , much further to the north than Velsen where the main waters of the lake entered the North Sea. There are actually five emissaries , namely; 51°43′50″N 4°42′57″E / 51.730431°N 4.715881°E / 51.730431; 4.715881 Navigable waterway A waterway is any navigable body of water . Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on
2508-418: The nuance of the equivalent word in other ways. A first distinction is necessary between maritime shipping routes and waterways used by inland water craft. Maritime shipping routes cross oceans and seas, and some lakes, where navigability is assumed, and no engineering is required, except to provide the draft for deep-sea shipping to approach seaports ( channels ), or to provide a short cut across an isthmus; this
2565-420: The road bridge was possibly foiled by a local Dutch resistance hero, Jan van Hoof , who is said to have cut the wires to the bridge. The Germans made repeated attacks on the bridge using bombs attached to driftwood, midget submarines and later resorted to shelling the bridge with 88mm barrages. Troops were positioned on the bridge giving an excellent arc of fire in case of attack. Troops that could not fit onto
2622-483: The sea, or into former marine bays now separated from the sea, in five places, namely at the mouths of the Nieuwe Merwede, Nieuwe Waterway (Nieuwe Maas), Dordtse Kil, Spui and IJssel. The Rhine–Meuse Delta is a tidal delta , shaped not only by the sedimentation of the rivers, but also by tidal currents. This meant that high tide formed a serious risk because strong tidal currents could tear huge areas of land into
2679-472: The sea. Before the construction of the Delta Works, tidal influence was palpable up to Nijmegen , and even today, after the regulatory action of the Delta Works, the tide acts far inland. At the Waal, for example, the most landward tidal influence can be detected between Brakel and Zaltbommel . Already in the time of Julius Caesar , the "Island of the Batavi " was known to the Romans . Its eastern point
2736-457: The switch to zero-emission barges by 2050. This is in accordance with the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the European Green Deal , which set the target of boosting inland canal and short-sea shipping by 25% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050. Waterways have been an important part of human activity since prehistoric times and navigability has allowed watercraft and canals to pass through every body of water . The Grand Canal (China) ,
2793-425: The teaching task of theologians as scholars." Sport in the city is principally focused on its football club NEC Nijmegen or just NEC, short for Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie, which plays at the 12,500-seat Stadion de Goffert . The club plays in the Eredivisie . Another football club is Jonker Boys . Bandy Vereniging Nijmegen is the biggest bandy club in the country. The national team got celebrated by over
2850-535: The third Tuesday of each July, over 40,000 participants from about 70 countries undertake four days of walking with distances ranging from 30 to 50 km (19 to 31 mi) a day. The marches are supplemented with festivities such as the Vierdaagse Festival . In 1968, theologians in the Catholic Church issued what is now known as the Nijmegen Statement , demanding sweeping reforms in the Vatican's Holy Office, previously known as The Inquisition, and calling for greater scope for theological inquiry. Among its signatories
2907-400: The ultimate origin of the current name. A collection of artifacts from Roman antiquity were compiled by Johannes Smetius in the 17th century, called the Smetius Collection . In January 2022, archeologists led by Pepijn van de Geer announced the discovery of an intact 2,000-year-old blue glass bowl with a vertical stripe pattern in Nijmegen. Researchers assume that this well-preserved bowl
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#17330852545502964-452: Was largely dominated by left-wing and progressive parties such as the Green Party , Democrats 66 , Socialist Party , and Labour . At times Nijmegen has been the only major city in the Netherlands with a solely left-wing government, and received the nickname ' Havana on the Waal'. Nijmegen celebrated its 2000th year of existence in 2005. It is considered the oldest city in the Netherlands. In gaining this qualification, it has competed with
3021-509: Was made in a glass workshop. According to van de Geer, this type of bowl was made by allowing molten glass to cool and harden over a mold. Beginning in the latter half of the 4th century, Roman power decreased and Noviomagus eventually became part of Francia . It also appeared around this time on the Tabula Peutingeriana . In the 8th century Emperor Charlemagne maintained his palatium in Nijmegen in 777, and possibly on at least three more occasions. During his brief deposition of 830,
3078-410: Was mainly to prevent the Germans from destroying the bridges. Capturing the road bridge allowed the British Army XXX Corps to attempt to reach the 1st British Airborne Division in Arnhem . The bridge was heavily defended by over 300 German troops on both the north and south sides with close to 20 anti-tank guns and two anti-aircraft guns , supported with artillery. The Germans' late attempt to blow
3135-411: Was the first of two settlements in what is now the Kingdom of the Netherlands to receive Roman city rights . In 103, the X Gemina was restationed in Vindobona , now Vienna , which may have been a major blow to the economy of the village around the camp, losing around 5000 inhabitants. In 104 Emperor Trajan renamed the town, which became known as Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum , Noviomagus for short,
3192-430: Was the split of the Rhine into the Oude Rijn and the Waal , which at this time were the two main branches of the Rhine. The Waal flowed into the Meuse in the Roman period. Pliny the Elder 's Natural History gives a list of tribes living in the " Gaulish islands", within the delta region between different mouths of the Rhine. First, he mentions the large island of the Batavians and the Cananefates . Then he gives
3249-404: Was theologian Fr. Joseph Ratzinger , then a member of the faculty at the University of Tübingen , but later the head of the successor to the Holy Office , the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , and later still Pope Benedict XVI . The Nijmegen Statement said: "Any form of Inquisition however subtle, not only harms the development of sound theology, it also causes irreparable damage to
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