Nederrijn

Coordinates: 51°58′11″N 5°21′8″E / 51.96972°N 5.35222°E / 51.96972; 5.35222

Nederrijn
Lower Rhine
River
Nederrijn near Arnhem
Country	Netherlands
Region	Gelderland
Source	Pannerdens Kanaal
- location	Huissen, Gelderland, Netherlands 51°56′59″N 5°57′7″E / 51.94972°N 5.95194°E / 51.94972; 5.95194
- coordinates	51°56′59″N 5°57′7″E / 51.94972°N 5.95194°E / 51.94972; 5.95194
Mouth	Lek
- location	Wijk bij Duurstede, Utrecht, Netherlands 51°58′11″N 5°21′8″E / 51.96972°N 5.35222°E / 51.96972; 5.35222
- coordinates	51°58′11″N 5°21′8″E / 51.96972°N 5.35222°E / 51.96972; 5.35222
Length	50 km (31 mi)
Location of the Nederrijn

Course of the Nederrijn

Nederrijn ("Lower Rhine" or "Nether Rhine") is the name of the Dutch part of the River Rhine from the confluence at the town of Angeren of the cut-off Rhine bend of Oude Rijn and the Pannerdens Kanaal (which was dug to form the new connection between the Waal and Nederrijn branches). The city of Arnhem lies on the right (north) bank of the river Nederrijn, just past the point where the River IJssel branches off. The Nederrijn flows on to the city of Wijk bij Duurstede, from where it continues as the River Lek. The once-important but now small Kromme Rijn branch (in Roman times part of the Limes Germanicus and border river of the Roman Empire) carries the name "Rhine" towards the city of Utrecht.

Edited satellite image of the Rhine-Waal fork showing the beginning of the Nederrijn branch (purple).

Bridges over the Nederrijn are in Arnhem (railway and three road bridges), in Heteren (A50) and Rhenen. Ferries are found near Doorwerth, Wageningen, Opheusden, Elst and Amerongen.

In order to regulate the distribution of drainage between the different branches of the Rhine, several dams have been constructed. If the dams are closed, there is little flow in the Lower Rhine and most of the water drained by the IJssel.

The old and the new flow of the Rhine near Arnhem

In 1530, the Rhine near Arnhem was moved, a project that was completed in 1536. The city, which originated along the St. Jansbeek ("St. John's Brook'), could develop better now that it was closer the river, and was also more easily defended against the Spanish threat.

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  Nederrijn near Renkum

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  Weir near Amerongen

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  The last stretch of the Nederrijn, near Wijk bij Duurstede

See also

• Niederrhein
• Lower Rhine