Vaartse Rijn

The Vaartse Rijn is a canal connecting the metropolis of Utrecht with Nieuwegein and the Lek river within the Dutch province of Utrecht. The Vaartse Rijn was previously a first-rate shipping direction among Utrecht and the Rhine basin. In 1122, Bishop Godebald of Utrecht dammed the Kromme Rijn where it branches from the Nederrijn at Wijk bij Duurstede. In the Roman length, The Kromme Rijn have been the principle channel of the Rhine river, however by means of this level become a minor distributary,

most water flowing inside the Lek and the Waal distributaries. The Kromme Rijn become dammed to save you inundation of the Bishop's land holdings close to Wijk bij Duurstede. The dam at the Kromme Rijn severed the shipping connection among Utrecht and the Rhine hinterland, and the residents of Utrecht consequently decided to dig a canal restoring the relationship. The first phase of construction of the Vaartse Rijn, started in 1127, making it one of the oldest canals inside the Netherlands.