Meuse
The Meuse (/mjuːz/ MYOOZ, /mɜːz/, US also /mɜːrz, mʌz/ MU(R)Z,[2][3][4] French: [møz] ; ⓘWalloon: Moûze [muːs]) or Maas (/mɑːs/ MAHSS,[2][4][5] Dutch: [maːs] ; ⓘLimburgish: Maos [mɔːs] or Maas [maːs]) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of 925 km (575 miles).
Meuse | |
---|---|
Native name |
|
Location | |
Countries | |
Region | Western Europe |
Cities |
|
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Pouilly-en-Bassigny, Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse, Haute-Marne, Grand Est, France |
• coordinates | 47.9867°N 5.6167°E |
• elevation | 409 m (1,342 ft) |
Mouth | North Sea |
• location | Hollands Diep, North Brabant/South Holland, Netherlands |
• coordinates | 51.715°N 4.6678°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 925 km (575 mi) |
Basin size | 34,548 km2 (13,339 sq mi) |
Discharge | |
• average | 350 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s) |
[1] |
History
From 1301 the upper Meuse roughly marked the western border of the Holy Roman Empire with the Kingdom of France, after Count Henry III of Bar had to receive the western part of the County of Bar (Barrois mouvant) as a French fief from the hands of King Philip IV. In 1408, a Burgundian army led by John the Fearless went to the aid of John III against the citizens of Liège, who were in open revolt. After the battle, which saw the men from Liège defeated, John ordered the drowning in the Meuse of suspicious burghers and noblemen in Liège.[6]
The border remained stable until the annexation of the Three Bishoprics Metz, Toul and Verdun by King Henry II in 1552 and the occupation of the Duchy of Lorraine by the forces of King Louis XIII in 1633. Its lower Belgian (Walloon) portion, part of the sillon industriel, was the first fully industrialized area in continental Europe.[7]
The Afgedamde Maas was created in the late Middle Ages, when a major flood made a connection between the Maas and the Merwede at the town of Woudrichem. From that moment on, the current Afgedamde Maas was the main branch of the lower Meuse. The former main branch eventually silted up and is today called the Oude Maasje. In the late 19th century and early 20th century the connection between the Maas and Rhine was closed off and the Maas was given a new, artificial mouth – the Bergse Maas. The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Maas reduced the risk of flooding and is considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works.[8][9] The former main branch was, after the dam at its southern inlet was completed in 1904, renamed Afgedamde Maas and no longer receives water from the Maas.
The Meuse and its crossings were a key objective of the Battle of France, the Battle of Sedan and also for the last major German WWII counter-offensive on the Western Front, the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945.
The Meuse is represented in the documentary The River People released in 2012 by Xavier Istasse.[10]
In July 2021, the Meuse basin was one of the many regions in Europe to experience catastrophic flooding during the 2021 European floods.[11]
Etymology
The name Meuse is derived from the French name of the river, derived from its Latin name, Mosa, which ultimately derives from the Celtic or Proto-Celtic name *Mosā. This probably derives from the same root as English "maze", referring to the river's twists and turns.[12]
The Dutch name Maas descends from Middle Dutch Mase, which comes from the presumed but unattested Old Dutch form *Masa, from Proto-Germanic *Masō. Modern Dutch and German Maas and Limburgish Maos preserve this Germanic form. Despite the similarity, the Germanic name is not derived from the Celtic name, judging from the change from earlier o into a, which is characteristic of the Germanic languages.
Geography
The Meuse rises in Pouilly-en-Bassigny, commune of Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse on the Langres plateau in France from where it flows northwards past Sedan (the head of navigation) and Charleville-Mézières into Belgium.[13]
At Namur it is joined by the Sambre. Beyond Namur the Meuse winds eastwards, skirting the Ardennes, and passes Liège before turning north. The river then forms part of the Belgian-Dutch border, except that at Maastricht the border lies further to the west. In the Netherlands it continues northwards through Venlo closely along the border to Germany, then turns towards the west, where it runs parallel to the Waal and forms part of the extensive Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, together with the Scheldt to its south and the Rhine to the north. The river has been divided near Heusden into the Afgedamde Maas on the right and the Bergse Maas on the left. The Bergse Maas continues under the name of Amer, which is part of De Biesbosch. The Afgedamde Maas joins the Waal, the main stem of the Rhine at Woudrichem, and then flows under the name of Boven Merwede to Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where it splits into Nieuwe Merwede and Beneden Merwede. Near Lage Zwaluwe, the Nieuwe Merwede joins the Amer, forming the Hollands Diep, which splits into Grevelingen and Haringvliet, before finally flowing into the North Sea.
The Meuse is crossed by railway bridges between the following stations (on the left and right banks respectively):
- Belgium:
- Hasselt (Belgium) – Maastricht (Netherlands)
- Netherlands:
- Weert - Roermond
- Blerick – Venlo
- Cuijk – Mook-Molenhoek
- Ravenstein – Wijchen
- 's-Hertogenbosch – Zaltbommel
There are also numerous road bridges and around 32 ferry crossings.
The Meuse is navigable over a substantial part of its total length: In the Netherlands and Belgium, the river is part of the major inland navigation infrastructure, connecting the Rotterdam-Amsterdam-Antwerp port areas to the industrial areas upstream: 's-Hertogenbosch, Venlo, Maastricht, Liège, Namur. Between Maastricht and Maasbracht, an unnavigable section of the Meuse is bypassed by the 36 km (22.4 mi) Juliana Canal. South of Namur, further upstream, the river can only carry more modest vessels, although a barge as long as 100 m (328 ft). can still reach the French border town of Givet.
From Givet, the river is canalized over a distance of 272 kilometres (169 mi). The canalized Meuse used to be called the "Canal de l'Est — Branche Nord" but was recently rebaptized into "Canal de la Meuse". The waterway can be used by the smallest barges that are still in use commercially almost 40 m (131 ft) long and just over 5 metres (16 ft) wide. Just upstream of the town of Commercy, the Canal de la Meuse connects with the Marne–Rhine Canal by means of a short diversion canal.[14]
The Cretaceous sea reptile Mosasaur is named after the river Meuse. The first fossils of it were discovered outside Maastricht in 1780.
Basin area
An international agreement was signed in 2002 in Ghent, Belgium, about the management of the river amongst France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Also participating in the agreement were the Belgian regional governments of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels (which is not in the basin of the Meuse but pumps running water into the Meuse).
Most of the basin area (approximately 36,000 km2) is in Wallonia (12,000 km2), followed by France (9,000 km2), the Netherlands (8,000 km2), Germany (2,000 km2), Flanders (2,000 km2) and Luxembourg (a few km2).
An International Commission on the Meuse has the responsibility of the implementation of the treaty.
The costs of this Commission are met by all these countries, in proportion of their own territory in the basin of the Meuse: Netherlands 30%, Wallonia 30%, France 15%, Germany 14.5%, Flanders 5%, Brussels 4.5%, Kingdom of Belgium 0.5%, and Luxembourg 0.5%.
The map of the basin area of Meuse was joined to the text of the treaty.[15]
As for culture, as a major communication route the River Meuse is the origin of Mosan art, principally (Wallonia and France).
The first landscape painted in the Renaissance was the landscape of Meuse by Joachim Patinir.[16] He was likely the uncle of Henri Blès, who is sometimes defined as a Mosan landscape painter active during the second third of the 16th century (i.e. second generation of landscape painters).[17]
Tributaries
The main tributaries of the Meuse are listed below in downstream-upstream order, with the town where the tributary meets the river:
- Dieze (near 's-Hertogenbosch)
- Aa (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
- Binnendieze (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
- Dommel (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
- Raam (in Grave)
- Niers (in Gennep)
- Swalm (in Swalmen)
- Rur/Roer (in Roermond)
- Kingbeek (near Illikhoven)
- Geleenbeek (near Maasbracht)
- Geul (near Meerssen)
- Geer/Jeker (in Maastricht)
- Voer/Fouron (in Eijsden)
- Berwinne/Berwijn (near Moelingen, part of Voeren)
- Ourthe (in Liège)
- Weser/Vesdre (near Liège)
- Amel/Amblève (in Comblain-au-Pont)
- Salm (in Trois-Ponts)
- Warche (near Malmedy)
- Hoyoux (in Huy)
- Mehaigne (in Wanze)
- Sambre (in Namur)
- Houyoux (in Namur)
- Bocq (in Yvoir)
- Molignée (in Anhée)
- Lesse (in Anseremme, part of Dinant)
- Viroin (in Vireux-Molhain)
- Faux (in Revin)
- Semois or Semoy (in Monthermé)
- Sormonne (in Warcq)
- Bar (near Dom-le-Mesnil)
- Chiers (in Bazeilles)
- Vair (in Maxey-sur-Meuse)
- Mouzon (in Neufchâteau, Vosges)
- Saônelle (in Coussey)
Distributaries
The mean annual discharge rate of the Meuse has been relatively stable over the last few thousand years. One recent study estimates that average flow has increased by about 10% since 2000 BC.[18] The hydrological distribution of the Meuse changed during the later Middle Ages, when a major flood forced it to shift its main course northwards towards the river Merwede. From then on several stretches of the original Merwede were renamed "Maas" (i.e. Meuse) and served as the primary outflow of that river. Those branches are currently known as the Nieuwe Maas and Oude Maas.
However during another series of severe floods the Meuse found an additional path towards the sea, resulting in the creation of the Biesbosch wetlands and Hollands Diep estuaries. Thereafter the Meuse split near Heusden into two main distributaries, one flowing north to join the Merwede and one flowing direct to the sea. The branch of the Meuse leading direct to the sea eventually silted up (and now forms the Oude Maasje stream), but in 1904 the canalised Bergse Maas was dug to take over the functions of the silted-up branch. At the same time the branch leading to the Merwede was dammed at Heusden (and has since been known as the Afgedamde Maas) so that little water from the Meuse entered the old Maas courses or the Rhine distributaries. The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Meuse is considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works.[8][19] In 1970 the Haringvlietdam has been finished. Since then the reunited Rhine and Meuse waters have reached the North Sea either at this site or, during times of lower discharges of the Rhine, at Hook of Holland.[20]
A 2008 study[21] notes that the difference between summer and winter flow volumes has increased significantly in the last 100–200 years. It points out that the frequency of serious floods (i.e. flows > 1000% of normal) has increased markedly. They predict that winter flooding of the Meuse may become a recurring problem in the coming decades.
Départements, provinces and towns
The Meuse flows through the following departments of France, provinces of Belgium, provinces of the Netherlands and towns:
- Haute-Marne
- Vosges: Neufchâteau
- Meuse: Commercy, Saint-Mihiel, Verdun, Stenay
- Ardennes: Sedan, Charleville-Mézières, Givet
- Namur: Dinant, Namur
- Liège: Huy, Liège, Visé
- Limburg: Eijsden, Maastricht, Stein, Maasbracht, Roermond, Venlo, Gennep
- Limburg: Stokkem, Maaseik (between Stein and Maasbracht)
- North Brabant: Boxmeer, Cuijk, Grave, Ravenstein, Lith, Heusden, Aalburg, Woudrichem
- Gelderland: Maasdriel
- South Holland: Dordrecht, Maassluis, Rotterdam
Detailed route
Main cities and tributaries will be in bold.
Region | Municipality on the left bank | Municipality on the right bank | Route |
---|---|---|---|
Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse | Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse | Source near Pouilly-en-Bassigny
Premier pont de la Meuse | |
Dammartin-sur-Meuse | Dammartin-sur-Meuse | Malroy
Pont de Malroy Pont du Pâtis des Vannees Ruisseau de Pré Chatenay | |
Val-de-Meuse | Val-de-Meuse | Meuse
Pont de Meuse (D429 Val-de-Meuse - Dombrot-le-Sec) Ruisseau d'Avrecourt Railway bridge Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line Ru d'Ouette Ru des Fossés Ruisseau de Bocheret Provenchères-sur-Meuse Pont de Val-de-Meuse (D189) Ruisseau des Aimeguenons Pont de l'A31 (A31 Nancy - Dijon) Ruisseau de Joncourt Pont de D132 Ruisseau de l'Étange Ruisseau du Grand Étange | |
Lavilleneuve | Val-de-Meuse | Ruisseau de Rangecourt
Pont de Lavilleneuve (D132) Le Viau | |
Val-de-Meuse | Lénizeul
Pont de D228 | ||
Bassoncourt | Bassoncourt | Ruisseau du Soilleron
Pont de Bassin Court sur la Meuse (D33) | |
Breuvannes-en-Bassigny | Breuvannes-en-Bassigny | Ruisseau des Noues
Meuvy Pont de Meuvy (D220) | |
Clefmont | Clefmont | / | |
Audeloncourt | Audeloncourt | Ruisseau du Grand Pré | |
Levécourt | Levécourt | Ruisseau de la Hourie
Pont de Levécourt (D131) | |
Huilliécourt | Doncourt-sur-Meuse | / | |
Hâcourt | Hâcourt | Pont de Hâcourt | |
Bourg-Sainte-Marie | Hâcourt
Ruisseau de Piot | ||
Brainville-sur-Meuse | Pont de Bourg-Sainte-Marie (D119) | ||
Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon | Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon | Bourmont | |
Saint-Thiébault | Saint-Thiébault
Pont de Saint-Thiébault (D16) Ruisseau d'Illoud | ||
Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon | Pont de Gonaincourt (D119)
Gonaincourt Le Mordé Pont de Bourmont sur la Meuse (D148) Goncourt | ||
Harréville-les-Chanteurs | Harréville-les-Chanteurs | Railway bridges Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line (2x)
Pont de Harréville-les-Chanteurs (D202) | |
Bazoilles-sur-Meuse | Bazoilles-sur-Meuse | Railway bridges Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line (2x)
Pont de Bazoilles-sur-Meuse (D74 Langres - Neufchâteau) | |
Neufchâteau | Neufchâteau | Railway bridge Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line
Pont de Neufchâteau (D674 Chaumont - Neufchâteau) Railway bridge at Neufchâteau railway station Pont All. Charles Péguy | |
Frebécourt | Frebécourt | Pont de Frebécourt
La Saônelle | |
Coussey | Coussey | Coussey
Pont de Coussey (D3) | |
Domrémy-la-Pucelle | Domrémy-la-Pucelle | Pont de Domrémy-la-Pucelle (D164 Neufchâteau - Greux) | |
Greux | Maxey-sur-Meuse | Vair | |
Maxey-sur-Meuse | Maxey-sur-Meuse
Pont de D19 | ||
France | Brixey-aux-Chanoines | Brixey-aux-Chanoines | Pont de Brixey-aux-Chanoines |
Sauvigny | Sauvigny | Ruisseau de Ruppes
Pont de Sauvigny | |
Montbras | / | ||
Sauvigny | Pont de Traveron
Traveron | ||
Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte | Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte | Rivière de Chêtre
Pont de Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte (D32) Rivière de Chêtre | |
Montbras | Champougny | / | |
Taillancourt | La Haute Meuse | ||
Champougny | Champougny
Pont de Champougny | ||
Maxey-sur-Vaise | Maxey-sur-Vaise | / | |
Burey-en-Vaux | Sepvigny | / | |
Sepvigny | Pont de Sepvigny (D145) | ||
Neuville-lès-Vaucouleurs | Neuville-lès-Vaucouleurs | / | |
Vaucouleurs | Chalaines | Chalaines
Pont de Chalaines (D960 Toul - Bure) La Haute Meuse | |
Ugny-sur-Meuse | Rigny-la-Salle | Le Goulot de Meuse | |
Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse | Pont de Ugny-sur-Meuse (D36)
Pont de Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse (D144A) | ||
Ugny-sur-Meuse | Ourches-sur-Meuse | Ourches-sur-Meuse
Pont de D144 | |
Pagny-sur-Meuse | Pagny-sur-Meuse | Pont de Pagny-sur-Meuse (N4 Paris - Strasbourg)
Pont de D36 | |
Troussey | Troussey | Troussey
Pont de D36C Pont de Troussey (D36) | |
Void-Vacon | Sorcy-Saint-Martin | Ruisseau de Frasne
Le Vidus | |
Sorcy-Saint-Martin | Pont de Sorcy-Saint-Martin (D10)
Pont de D144 | ||
Sorcy-Saint-Martin | Euville | Railway bridge Paris-Est–Strasbourg-Ville line
Issey Pont d'Euville (D144) | |
Commercy | Commercy | Canal de l'Est
Pont de D36 Ruisseau de la Noue | |
Vignot | Vignot | Ruisseau d'Aulnois
Pont de Vignot (D958 Commercy - Pont-à-Mousson) | |
Commercy | Commercy | Pont de Rte de Boncourt (D8A) | |
Lérouville | Commercy | Canal de l'Est | |
Boncourt-sur-Meuse | Boncourt-sur-Meuse | Railway bridge Lérouville - Metz line
Pont de Boncourt-sur-Meuse | |
Pont-sur-Meuse | Pont-sur-Meuse | Pont-sur-Meuse
Pont de Pont-sur-Meuse (D12) Ruisseau de Chonville | |
Mécrin | Mécrin | Pont de Mécrin (D12A) | |
Sampigny | Han-sur-Meuse | Rivière de Mont | |
Han-sur-Meuse | Brasseitte
Pont du Moulin Blussot (D183) Ally-sur-Meuse | ||
Saint-Mihiel | Pont de Han-sur-Meuse (D7A) | ||
Kœur-la-Petite | Bislée | Pont de D964 (Commercy - Verdun) | |
Kœur-la-Grande | Pont de Bislée (D171) | ||
Chauvoncourt | Canal de l'Est | ||
Chauvoncourt | Menonville | ||
Saint-Mihiel | Saint-Mihiel | Canal de l'Est
Pont de Saint-Mihiel (D901 Saint-Mihiel - Rumont) | |
Les Paroches | Maizey | Le Rehaut | |
Maizey | Maizy | ||
Dompcevrin | Pont de Maizy (D101)
Le Hamboquin | ||
Bannoncourt | Rouvrois-sur-Meuse | / | |
Bannoncourt | La Petite Meuse
Pont de Bannoncourt (D109) Railway bridge LGV Est high speed line (Paris - Strasbourg) Ruisseau de Rompierre | ||
Lacroix-sur-Meuse | La Prêle | ||
Woimbey | / | ||
Troyon | Troyon | Pont de Troyon | |
Bouquemont | / | ||
Tilly-sur-Meuse | / | ||
Tilly-sur-Meuse | Pont de Tilly-sur-Meuse | ||
Ambly-sur-Meuse | Ruisseau de Récourt | ||
Villers-sur-Meuse | Villers-sur-Meuse | Villers-sur-Meuse
Pont de Villers-sur-Meuse (D21) | |
Les Monthairons | Les Monthairons | Pont de Rue du Lavoir
Le Petit Monthairon | |
Dieue-sur-Meuse | Dieue-sur-Meuse | Le Clair Fossé
Ruisseau de la Dieue La Petite Meuse Pont de Dieue-sur-Meuse (D159) Ruisseau de Billonneau Ruisseau de la Dieue | |
Dugny-sur-Meuse | Haudainville | Pont de l'Autoroute A4 (Paris - Strasbourg)
Ruisseau du Franc Ban | |
Belleray | Belleray | Pont de Belleray (D301) | |
Verdun | Verdun | Saint Vanne
Pont de D330 Pont de Rued'Anthouard Saint Vanne Pont Fernand Legay Canal du Puty Pont Chaussée | |
Belleville-sur-Meuse | Thierville-sur-Meuse | Railway bridge St-Hilaire-au-Temple-Hagondange line (Verdun-Metz)
La Scance Pont de D302B | |
Charny-sur-Meuse | Bras-sur-Meuse | Charny-sur-Meuse
Pont de Bras-sur-Meuse (D115) | |
Vacherauville | Vacherauville | Vacherauville | |
Marre | Champneuville | Ruisseau de la Claire | |
Chattancourt | / | ||
Champneuville | Pont de Champneuville (D214) | ||
Cumières-le-Mort-Homme | / | ||
Regnéville-sur-Meuse | Samogneux | Regnéville-sur-Meuse
Pont de Samogneux | |
Forges-sur-Meuse | Brabant-sur-Meuse | Ruisseau de Forges | |
Consenvoye | Consenvoye | Pont de Consenvoye | |
Dannevoux | Sivry-sur-Meuse | Canal de l'Est
Ruisseau de Guénoville Le Butel Pont de Dannevoux Ruisseau de Brouzel | |
Vilosnes-Haraumont | Vilosnes-Haraumont | Canal de l'Est
Pont de Vilosnes-Haraumont (D123B) | |
Brieulles-sur-Meuse | Brieulles-sur-Meuse | Ruisseau de Domfontaine
Le Wassieu | |
Cléry-le-Petit | Liny-devant-Dun | Le Doua
La Tranchée | |
Dun-sur-Meuse | Canal de l'Est | ||
Doulcon | Dun-sur-Meuse
Pont de Dun-sur-Meuse (D998) L'Andon | ||
Sassey-sur-Meuse | Milly-sur-Bradon | Ruisseau de Bradon | |
Sassey-sur-Meuse | Sassey-sur-Meuse
Pont de Sassey-sur-Meuse (D30) Ruisseau des Gaules | ||
Mont-devant-Sassey | Ruisseau de Mont
Ruisseau de Longvaux | ||
Saulmory-Villefranche | Mouzay | Ruisseau de Froide Fontaine
Le Grand Mohat Le Petit Mohat | |
Wiseppe | / | ||
Stenay | Canal de l'Est | ||
Stenay | Pont de Stenay (D947 Stenay - Montmédy)
La Wiseppe Ruisseau de Cervizy | ||
Martincourt-sur-Meuse | Martincourt-sur-Meuse | Pont de Martincourt-sur-Meuse | |
Luzy-Saint-Martin | Inor | Ruisseau de Cesse
Pont de Luz | |
Pouilly-sur-Meuse | Ruisseau du Fond de Noue | ||
Pouilly-sur-Meuse | Pont de Pouilly-sur-Meuse | ||
/ | Létanne | Pouilly-sur-Meuse | La Wame |
Létanne | Mouzon | Le Bras de Vincy | |
Mouzon | Mouzon
Pont de D19 | ||
Autrecourt-et-Pourron | Yoncq
Autrecourt Ruisseau de Brouhan | ||
Villers-devant-Mouzon | Villers-devant-Mouzon
Ruisseau de la Vignette Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines Coupure de Remilly | ||
Remilly-Aillicourt | Douzy | / | |
Remilly-Aillicourt | Petit Remilly
Pont de Remilly-Aillicourt (D4) | ||
Bazeilles | Chiers
Pont de Bazeilles (D129) Coupure de Remilly | ||
Noyers-Pont-Maugis | Ruisseau de Thélonne
Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Sedan - Thionville) | ||
Balan | Ruisseau de Batelotte | ||
Wadelincourt | Wadelincourt | ||
Sedan | Pont de Sedan (N43 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières) | ||
Sedan | Pont de l'Avenue Philippoteaux (D8043A)
Canal de l'Est Pont du Boulevard Fabert Pont de Meuse Passerelle Saint-Vincent de Paul Pont-Neuf de Sedan | ||
Glaire | Floing | Ruz de Glaire
Tour à Glaire (Glaire) Ruisseau de Floing Igles (Glaire) | |
Saint-Menges | Ruisseau du Bas Caillou | ||
Donchery | Ruisseau de la Falizette
Villette (Glaire) Pont de Glaire (A34 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières) Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan) | ||
Sedan | Frénois (Sedan) | ||
Donchery | Pont de Donchery (D24) | ||
Villers-sur-Bar | Vrigne | ||
Vrigne-Meuse | Vrigne-Meuse | ||
Dom-le-Mesnil | Canal des Ardennes | ||
Nouvion-sur-Meuse | Nouvion-sur-Meuse
Pont de Nouvion-sur-Meuse (D33) | ||
Flize | Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines
Flize Ruisseau de Boutancourt | ||
Chalandry-Elaire | Elaire (Chalandry-Elaire) | ||
Les Ayvelles | Lumes | Lumes | |
Lumes | Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan) | ||
Villers-Semeuse | Pont de Lumes (A34 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières)
Ruisseau de la Truie Dérivation de Romery | ||
Saint-Laurent | Dérivation de Romery | ||
Charleville-Mézières | Le Theux (Charleville-Mézières) | ||
Charleville-Mézières | Vence
Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Reims) Mohon (Charleville-Mézières) Pont de la Victoire (D8043A) Mézières (Charleville-Mézières) Pont de Pierre Saint-Julien (Charleville-Mézières) | ||
Prix-lès-Mézières | Pont de Manchester (N43 Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)
Ruisseau du Marbay Manchester (Charleville-Mézières) Ruisseau des Rejets Ruisseau de Praëlle | ||
Warcq | Warcq
Pont de Warcq (D16) | ||
Charleville-Mézières | Pont de N43 (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)
Passerelle Bayard Pont d'Arches (D8043A) Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Reims) Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Pont de Mocy (D58) Montcy-Saint-Pierre (Charleville-Mézières) Passerelle du Mont Olympe | ||
Montcy-Notre-Dame | Ruisseau de la Fontaine du Prince
Ruisseau de Soiru Pont de Montcy-Notre-Dame (D58A) | ||
Aiglemont | / | ||
Nouzonville | / | ||
Nouzonville | Nouzonville
La Goutelle Ruisseau du Pré Allard Pont de Nouzonville (D13) | ||
Joigny-sur-Meuse | Joigny-sur-Meuse | Pont de Joigny-sur-Meuse (D1A) | |
Bogny-sur-Meuse | Bogny-sur-Meuse | Braux
Pont Jean-Rogissart (D1) Levrézy Pont Rue Jourde (D1C) Château Regnault | |
Monthermé | Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) | ||
Monthermé | Semois
Pont de Monthermé (D989) | ||
Deville | Deville
Ruisseau de Mairupt | ||
Laifour | Ruisseau de la Lambrèque | ||
Revin | Ruisseau de la Grande Commune
Ruisseau de la Petite Commune Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Pont de Laifour (D1) | ||
Les Mazures | / | ||
Anchamps | Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)
Anchamps Pont d'Anchamps (D1B) Ru de la Pille Ruisseau des Meurtriers | ||
Revin | Orzy
Pont d'Orzy Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Pont de la Bouverie (D988 Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Sartnizon | ||
Rocroi | Pont de Saint-Nicolas
Saint-Nicolas (Rocroi) Ruisseau de Falières | ||
Revin | Pont de Fumay (D988 Charleville-Mézières - Givet)
Ruisseau des Cochons | ||
Fumay | Ruisseau de Come | ||
Fumay | Ruisseau des Manises
Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Ruisseau de la Folie | ||
Haybes | Fumay
Pont de Fumay (D7) Ri d'Alyse | ||
Haybes | Pont de la Guerre (D7B)
Ruisseau de Mohron | ||
Fépin | Ruisseau d'Hargnies | ||
Montigny-sur-Meuse | Vireux-Wallerand | Risdoux
Fond de la Mènerie | |
Vireux-Molhain | Vireux-Molhain
Pont de Vireux (D989) | ||
Hierges | Viroin | ||
Aubrives | Aubrives | Aubrives | |
Ham-sur-Meuse | Ham-sur-Meuse
Pont de Ham (D46DB) | ||
Chooz | Chooz Nuclear Power Plant | ||
Chooz | Pont de Chemin de Mission
Pont de Chooz | ||
Rancennes | Le Fond des Vaux
Les Trois Fontaines (Chooz) | ||
Givet | / | ||
Givet | Ruisseau de Rancennes
Pont des Américains (D949) Houille | ||
/ / / | Givet | Hastière | Ruisseau de Mon Idée
Heer (Hastière) |
Hastière | Hastière | Heer-Agimont
Pont de N909 Hermeton-sur-Meuse Hermeton Ruisseau de Féron Hastière-Lavaux Hastière-par-delà Pont de Hastière-Lavaux (N915) Fond des Vaux Ruisseau de Bonsoy Ruisseau de la Roule Waulsort Ruisseau du Chestia | |
Dinant | Freÿr (Hastière)
Moniat (Hastière) | ||
Dinant | Anseremme
Noyon Pré Railway bridge line 166 Libramont - Bertrix - Dinant Viaduc Charlemagne (N97 Ciney - Philippeville) Neffe Saint-Paul Pont Charles de Gaulle (N936) Leffe Ruisseau de Leffe Bouvignes-sur-Meuse | ||
Yvoir | / | ||
Anhée | Houx (Yvoir)
Railway bridge line 154 Dinant - Namur Molignée Pont d'Anhée (N92 Namur - Dinant) Hun (Anhée) Rouillon (Anhée) Pont de Rouillon (N947a) | ||
Profondeville | Godinne (Yvoir)
Rivière (Profondeville) | ||
Profondeville | Burnot
Burnot Pont de Lustin (N947) Tailfer Ruisseau de Tailfer | ||
Namur | Boreuville (Namur) | ||
Namur | Pont de Wépion
Grand Ry Dave Ruisseau de Dave Wépion Marlagne La Plante Pont de Jambes Jambes Passerelle l'Enjambée Pont des Ardennes (N90 Namur - Liège) Railway bridge 'Pont de Luxembourg' line 154 Dinant - Namur Bouge Pont des Grands Malades (N905) Viaduc du Beez (E411 Namur - Arlon) Beez Lives-sur-Meuse Brumagne Gelbresse Marche-les-Dames | ||
Andenne | Andenne | Samson
Samson Pont de Namêche (N942) Namêche Sclayn Pont de N968 Ruisseau de la Loysse Seilles Pont d'Andenne (N921) Andenelle | |
Wanze | Huy | Gisves (Huy)
Java (Wanze) Ben (Huy) Bas-Oha (Wanze) Solière Pont Père Pire (N643) | |
Huy | Anhin
Railway bridge Pont Roi Baudouin (N64 Tienen - Huy) Pont de l'Europe | ||
Amay | Tihange Nuclear Power Station
Tihange (Huy) Pont d'Ampsin (N684) Ampsin (Amay) Neuville-sous-Huy (Huy) | ||
Amay | Pont d'Ombret (N696)
Ombret-Rawsa | ||
Engis | Ruisseau d'Oxhe
Flône (Amay) | ||
Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse | Pont de Hermalle
Hermalle-sous-Huy (Engis) Mallieue (Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse) | ||
Engis | Engis
Pont d'Engis (N639) | ||
Flémalle | Flémalle | Ramioul
Ramet Chokier Ivoz Pont barrage d'Ivoz-Ramet (N677) | |
Seraing | Ruisseau de Ville en Cour
Railway bridge line 125A (Liers - Liège - Flémalle-Haute) Val | ||
Seraing | Troque
Jemeppe-sur-Meuse Pont de Seraing (A604 highway Liège Airport - Seraing) | ||
Saint-Nicolas | Tilleur (Saint-Nicolas) | ||
Liège | Ougrée (Seraing)
Sclessin (Liège) Pont d'Ougrée (N63 Liège - Marche-en-Famenne) Railway bridge cargo line | ||
Liège | Kinkempois
Pont de Liège (E25 highway Liège - Luxembourg City ) Railway bridge high speed line 3 (Liège - Aachen ) Angleur Canal de l'Ourthe Pont de Fragnée Passerelle la Belle Liègeoise Pont du Roi Albert 1er (N30) Pont Kennedy Passerelle Saucy Pont des Arches (N3 Liège – Germany ) Pont Maghin Pont Atlas Bressoux Jupille-sur-Meuse Pont - Barrage de Monsin Monsin Island Canal de Monsin | ||
Herstal | Herstal
Wandre (Liège) Pont de Wandre (N667) Pont d'Autorute E40 (Liège - Aachen ) | ||
Oupeye | Visé | Cheratte (Visé)
Argenteau (Visé) Julienne Hermalle-sous-Argenteau (Oupeye) Pont de Hermalle-sous-Argenteau Richelle (Visé) Pont Trilogiport | |
Visé | Visé
Pont de Visé (N618) Canal de Haccourt - Visé Railway bridge 'Pont des Allemands' Pont et barrage de Lixhe (N602) | ||
/ / | Visé | Voeren | Lixhe (Visé)
Nivelle (Visé) |
/ / Belgium / Netherlands | Visé | Eijsden-Margraten | Voer
Bike ferry service Lanaye - Eijsden Canal de Lanaye Petit Lanaye (Visé) |
Maastricht | Maastricht | Maastricht
John F. Kennedybrug N278 (Maastricht - Aachen ) Pedestrial bridge 'Hoge Brug' Pedestrial bridge 'Sint-Servaasbrug' Wilhelminabrug Railway bridge Maastricht Noorderbrug | |
/ / Belgium / Netherlands | Lanaken | Maastricht | Smeermaas (Lanaken)
Neerharen (Lanaken) |
Maasmechelen | Meerssen | Geul
Uikhoven (Maasmechelen) Bike ferry service Uikhoven - Geulle aan de Maas Geulle aan de Maas (Meerssen) Oude Broekgraaf | |
Stein | Kotem
Scharbergbrug (E314 / A76 Genk - Heerlen - Aachen ) Meers Kirkbeek Maasband Ur Car ferry service Meeswijk - Berg aan de Maas | ||
Dilsen-Stokkem | Sittard-Geleen | Obbicht (Sittard-Geleen)
Boyen (Dilsen-Stokkem) Vrietselbeek Bike ferry service Rotem - Grevenbicht Kogbeek Kingbeek | |
Echt-Susteren | Illikhoven (Sittard-Geleen)
Visserweert (Sittard-Geleen) | ||
Maaseik | Heppeneert (Maaseik)
Kokkelert (Sittard-Geleen) Zanderbeek | ||
Maasgouw | Ohé en Laak (Maasgouw)
Bosbeek Aldeneik (Maaseik) | ||
Kinrooi | Ophoven (Kinrooi)
Bike ferry service Ophoven - Ohé en Laak Albeek | ||
Maasgouw | Maasgouw | Maasbracht
Bike ferry service Thorn - Wessem Bike ferry service Maasbracht - Wessem Maasbrug bij Wessem (A2 Eindhoven - Maastricht) Linne-Buggenum Canal | |
Roermond | Vlootbeek | ||
Roermond | Merum
Bike ferry service Ool - Oolderhuuske Ool Louis Raemaekersbrug (N280 Roermond - Weert) Maasnielderbeek Railway bridge Buggenum (Iron Rhine Weert - Roermond) | ||
Leudal | Linne-Buggenum Canal
Neerbeek | ||
Beesel | Bike ferry service Neer - Rijkel
Rijkel (Beesel) | ||
Peel en Maas | Beesel
Kessel-Eik (Peel en Maas) Huilbeek Kessel (Peel en Maas) Car ferry service Kessel - Beesel Tasbeek Scheikensbeek | ||
Venlo | Oijen (Peel en Maas)
Aalsbeek | ||
Venlo | Engerbeek
Springbeek Zuiderbrug (A73 Nijmegen - Venlo) Wijlderbeek Stadsbrug Venlo (N556) Railway bridge Venlo (Venlo–Eindhoven and Nijmegen–Venlo lines) Rijnbeek Stepkensbeek | ||
Horst aan de Maas | Stopbeek
Baarsdonk Everlose Beek Vorstermolenbeek Grubbenvorst (Horst aan de Maas) Car ferry service Grubbenvorst - Velden Latbeek Hasselt (Venlo) Salderbeek Houthuizen (Horst aan de Maas) Molenbeek van Lotum Wielder (Horst aan de Maas) Tassbeek Car ferry service Lottum - Lomm Pedestrian ferry service Lottum - Arcen Aarsbeek Broekhuizen (Horst aan de Maas) Car ferry service Broekhuizen - Arcen Molenbeek Broekhuizenvorst (Horst aan de Maas) Rode Beek | ||
Bergen | Geldernsch-Nierkanaal | ||
Venray | Wellerlooi (Bergen)
Bike ferry service Blitterswijck - Wellerlooi Sohr Koninginnebrug N270 (Venray - Eindhoven) Grote Molenbeek Oostrumsche Beek Geijsteren (Venray) | ||
/ | Land van Cuijk | Bergen | Maashees
Ayensebeek Vierlingsbeek (Land van Cuijk) Car ferry service Vierlingsbeek - Bergen Molenbeek Heukelomsebeek Heukelom (Bergen) Eckeltse Beek Rekgraaf Car ferry service Sambeek - Afferden Sint-Jansbeek |
Gennep | Boxmeer (Land van Cuijk)
Maasbrug van Boxmeer (A77 Boxmeer - Cologne ) Maasbrug van Gennep (N264 Gennep - Veghel) Oeffeltsche Raam Tielebeek | ||
Mook en Middelaar | Sint-Agatha (Land van Cuijk)
Virdsche Graaf Car ferry service Cuijk - Middelaar Mooks Kanaal Mook (Mook en Middelaar) Katwijk (Land van Cuijk) Railway bridge Mook (Nijmegen–Venlo line) | ||
/ | Heumen | Maas–Waal Canal
Maasbrug van Heumen (A73 Nijmegen - Venlo) Tochtsloot | |
Wijchen | Balgoij (Wijchen) | ||
Oss | Keent (Oss)
Neerloon (Oss) Maasbrug van Ravenstein (A50 Nijmegen - Eindhoven) Bike ferry service Ravenstein - Niftrik Railway bridge 'Edithbrug' (Tilburg-Nijmegen line) Neerlangel (Oss) Demen (Oss) Bike ferry service Demen - Batenburg Dieden (Oss) | ||
West Maas en Waal | Nieuwe Wetering
De Vliet Car ferry service Appeltern - Megen Car ferry service Maasbommel - Megen-West Maasbommel (West Maas en Waal) Burgemeester Delenkanaal Boveneind (Oss) Berghuizen (West Maas en Waal) Oijen (Oss) Car ferry service Oijen - Nieuwe Schans Greffeling (West Maas en Waal) Moordhuizen (West Maas en Waal) Car ferry service Lith - Moordhuizen | ||
Maasdriel | Voorne (Maasdriel)
Bike ferry service Heerewaarden - Lithse Ham Maren-Kessel (Oss) Sint Andries canal Car ferry service Alem - Maren-Kessel 't Wild (Oss) Hertogswetering Hoefgraaf | ||
's-Hertogenbosch | Gewande ('s-Hertogenbosch)
Hoenzadriel (Maasdriel) Maasbrug van Empel (A2 's-Hertogenbosch - Utrecht) Railway bridge 'Hedelse spoorbrug' (Utrecht–Boxtel line) Prinses Irenebrigadebrug Oude Dieze | ||
Heusden | Well (Maasdriel)
Zooislagen Buitendijkse Loop | ||
Zaltbommel | Car ferry service Bern - Herpt
Bern (Zaltbommel) | ||
Heusden | Altena | Maasbrug van Heusden (N267 Heusden - Giessen)
Heesbeen (Heusden) Doeveren (Heusden) | |
Waalwijk | Afwateringskanaal 's-Hertogenbosch - Drongelen
Car ferry service Drongelen - Waalwijk Car ferry service Dussen - Capelle | ||
Geertruidenberg | Peerenboom (Altena)
Keizersveerbrug (A27 Breda - Utrecht) Raamsdonksveer (Geertruidenberg) Mouth into the North Sea |
Mention in patriotic songs
The Meuse (Maas) is mentioned in the first stanza of Germany's old national anthem, the Deutschlandlied. However, since its re-adoption as national anthem in 1952, only the third stanza of the Deutschlandlied has been sung as the German national anthem, the first and second stanzas being omitted. This was confirmed after German reunification in 1991 when only the third stanza was defined as the official anthem. The lyrics written in 1841 describe a then–disunited Germany with the river as its western boundary, where King William I of the Netherlands had joined the German Confederation with his Duchy of Limburg in 1839. Though the duchy's territory officially became an integral part of the Netherlands by the 1867 Treaty of London, the text passage remained unchanged when the Deutschlandlied was declared the national anthem of the Weimar Republic in 1922.
The name of the rivers also forms part of the title of "Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse", written after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and a popular patriotic song for the rest of the 19th century and into the 20th.
References
- Marcel de Wit, Robert Leander, Adri Buishand: Extreme discharges in the Meuse basin Archived 2014-01-06 at the Wayback Machine, p. 2
(The frequently mentioned figure of 250 m³/s refers to the Borgharen gauge near the frontier between Belgium and the Netherlands representing two thirds of the basin.) - "Meuse". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
- "Meuse" (US) and "Meuse". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-02-09.
- "Meuse". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
- "Maas". Lexico US English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26.
- Loo, Bart van (2021). "Let Them All Die". The Burgundians: A Vanished Empire: A History of 1111 Years and One Day. London. ISBN 978-1-78954-343-8. OCLC 1264400332.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - "Wallonie : une région en Europe" (in French). Ministère de la Région wallonne. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
- Van der Aalst & De Jongh (2004). Honderd Jaar Bergse Maas (in Dutch). Pictures Publishing. ISBN 90-73187-50-8.
- Wols, Rien (2011). "De Uitvoering van de Maasmondingswerken". Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (in Dutch).
- Presentation of The River People on Eurochannel
- Barneveld, Hermjan; Hoitink, A. J. F.; Frings, R. M. (2022). "Massive morphological changes during the 2021 summer flood in the River Meuse" (PDF). hkv.nl. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- "Mosa - Wiktionary". 25 July 2021.
- (in French) Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - La Meuse (B---0000)".
- NoorderSoft Waterways database
- Accord international sur la Meuse
- French: Les rochers par lesquels l'art gothique suggère conventionnellement un site sauvage et désertique, sont présents. Comme d'aucuns l'ont remarqué, ces pics rocheux qui vont devenir chez Patinier, indissociables de l'évocation d'un paysage ressemblent à ceux qu'il a pu voir dans la région dinantaise (...) Mais il va de soi que les paysages représentés ne sont jamais dans leur ensemble la transposition de sites existants. L'espace tel que le conçoit Patinier est d'un autre ordre que celui qui s'offre au spectateur dans la réalité. in 'L'essor du paysage' in Jacques Stiennon, Jean-Patrick Duchesne, Yves Randaxhe, Cinq siècles de peinture en Wallonie, Les éditeurs d'art associés, Bruxelles, 1988, p. 67-72. The landscape of the Mosan valley is the inspiration of Patinier but the result of this inspiration was not a painting of this landscape.
- Contribution of scientific methods to the understanding of the work of the 16th century painter, Henri Bles Université de Liège
- Ward PJ, H Renssen, JCJH Aerts, RT van Balen & J Vandenberghe (2008), "Strong increases in flood frequency and discharge of the River Meuse over the Late Holocene: impacts of long-term anthropogenic land use change and climate variability". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 12: 159-175. http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/12/159/2008/hess-12-159-2008.pdf [Ward et al., 2008]
- Wols, Rien (2011). "De Uitvoering van de Maasmondingswerken". Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (in Dutch).
- Rijkswaterstaat: Water Management in the Netherlands, 2011
- Ward et al., 2008
External links
Meuse River.