The Meuse in motion, a century of water management
Niftrik, Grave, Balgoij
The Meuse has always been present in this region, as a source of life but also as a threat. In the early twentieth century, high water levels caused serious concern. Between 1900 and 1927 the river flooded regularly; in 1926 it became clear that reinforcing the dikes alone wasn’t enough. Under the leadership of W.C. Lely (1854 – 1929, hydraulic engineer, minister, governor and politician), it was decided to canalise the river. Ten sharp bends disappeared, including the meanders at Balgoij and Keent. This made the Meuse 19 kilometres shorter and gave the water more room to flow away more quickly. The consequences were far-reaching. Keent was separated from Balgoij and farmers had to relocate. At the same time, jobs were created: hundreds of workers were deployed to dig the new river course. The construction of the weir and lock at Grave (1929) made the Meuse safer and more navigable, but raised the water level. To make sure the Raam tributary could still discharge its water, the Van Sasse pumping station was built in 1928. At the same time, the Van Citters pumping stations at Niftrik and Balgoij were built to pump the weteringen into the Meuse. In the second half of the 20th century the focus remained on shipping and dry feet. But the disadvantages for nature and fish stocks became increasingly clear. From the early 21st century a new approach emerged: giving the river more space. At the Loonse Waard, a side channel was dug that contributes to both water safety and nature restoration. In Keent, the old Meuse meander was restored, creating a dynamic nature area with grazing and water storage. Measures have also been taken to restore ecology. At Grave, fish ladders have been built: a large one in the Meuse itself and a smaller one at the Van Sasse pumping station. Species like ide, barbel and eel can now once again move between the river and side waters. Together, these projects show how water management along the Meuse has evolved over a century: from a technical battle against water to a system where safety, shipping and nature work together. Photo Meuse: ©Eefke Peeters via Land van Cuijk Photo Bench: ©Bas Hendriks via Land van Cuijk Photo Cyclists: ©Cybox via Land van Cuijk This Premium Cycling Route was created by our editor: Désirée van Uffelen.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Maasbandijk , 6606 KB Wijchen | 29 KM | |
|
From
80
to
81
|
2393 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head southeast | 1.3 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Maasdijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 81 | 0 M | ||
|
From
81
to
82
|
3103 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Maasbandijk | 3 KM | ||
| Continue onto Sluisweg | 60 M | ||
| You are now at section 82 | 0 M | ||
|
From
82
to
3
|
786 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head east on Sluisweg | 142 M | ||
| Continue right onto Graafseweg | 644 M | ||
| You are now at section 03 | 0 M | ||
|
From
3
to
4
|
1537 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head north on Arnoud van Gelderweg | 175 M | ||
| Continue left onto Koninginnedijk | 854 M | ||
| Continue left onto Havenstraat | 185 M | ||
| Continue left onto Ruyterstraat | 205 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oliestraat | 59 M | ||
| Continue right onto Korte Rogstraat | 52 M | ||
| Continue left onto Maasstraat | 7 M | ||
| You are now at section 04 | 0 M | ||
|
From
4
to
80
|
4644 M | 4.6 KM | |
| Head west on Markt | 136 M | ||
| Continue left onto Hoofschestraat | 100 M | ||
| Turn right onto Trompetterstraat | 239 M | ||
| Turn right onto Sint Henricusweg | 7 M | ||
| Continue left onto Trompetterstraat | 46 M | ||
| Continue right onto Arnoud van Gelderweg | 4 M | ||
| Continue left onto Henri Dunantsingel | 93 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Henri Dunantsingel | 352 M | ||
| Continue right onto Bikkelkampplein | 1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Basilius van Bruggelaan | 307 M | ||
| Turn left onto Pastoor Loefsweg | 140 M | ||
| Turn left onto Bronkhorstweg | 68 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hanenstraat | 304 M | ||
| Continue slightly right onto Pastoriestraat | 17 M | ||
| Continue left onto Hanenstraat | 199 M | ||
| Turn left onto Wolfgatschestraat | 447 M | ||
| Turn right onto Grippensteinschestraat | 503 M | ||
| Turn left onto Tolschestraat | 659 M | ||
| You are now at section 80 | 0 M | ||
|
From
80
to
30
|
2332 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head south on Bosschebaan | 608 M | ||
| Continue right onto Venesteinlaan | 194 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Venesteinlaan | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 30 | 0 M | ||
|
From
30
to
31
|
1653 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head north on Noordhoek | 1.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
|
From
31
to
20
|
1253 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head east on Oude Maasdijk | 1.2 KM | ||
| Continue left onto Hans en Grietweg | 102 M | ||
| You are now at section 20 | 0 M | ||
|
From
20
to
19
|
2605 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head northwest on Hans en Grietweg | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Keentseweg | 774 M | ||
| You are now at section 19 | 0 M | ||
|
From
19
to
2
|
3658 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head northeast on Maasdijk | 3.7 KM | ||
| You are now at section 02 | 0 M | ||
|
From
2
to
87
|
3096 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Veersingel | 557 M | ||
| Turn left | 190 M | ||
| Turn left onto Langakker | 305 M | ||
| Turn left onto Fietspad A50 Oost | 1.6 KM | ||
| Continue left onto Ekenseweg | 90 M | ||
| Continue right onto Dorpsstraat | 251 M | ||
| Turn right onto Maasbandijk | 118 M | ||
| You are now at section 87 | 0 M | ||
|
From
87
to
86
|
1163 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Maasbandijk | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 86 | 0 M | ||
|
From
86
to
80
|
807 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head northeast on Maasbandijk | 701 M | ||
| Continue onto Maasbandijk | 106 M | ||
| You are now at section 80 | 0 M |