North Sea Canal

The North Sea Canal (Dutch North Sea Canal ) in the Netherlands ( province of North Holland ) connects the North Sea with the IJsselmeer.

It connects Amsterdam ( IJ ) Westbound at IJmuiden with the North Sea and to the east by the IJsselmeer. The North Sea Canal replaced the 1817 to 1822 built North Holland Canal ( Groot Hollands Kanaal ), which flows from Amsterdam to Den Helder in the North Sea. In IJmuiden and Amsterdam include ( among other things Oranjesluizen ) the channel towards the North Sea and against the IJsselmeer from four locks.

History

The largest part of the North Sea Canal was created by the reclamation of IJ. For this purpose, a 17 -kilometer-long dike was built. For drainage and for the shipping of the Spaarne, the Zaan and the Nauer Vaart 's nine lateral canals were created.

The excavation for the channel through the dunes between Velsen and the North Sea, and through the polder of Buitenhuizen, south of Assendelft, began on 8 March 1865 and lasted until 1876., Since no Dutch company ventured in this project, the work was to awarded an English company.

At the mouth of the channel into the North Sea locks were built. There, the place was IJmuiden. After Südschleuse (1876 ), the funds lock was built in 1896. At this time the canal was 25 km long, 60 to 100 meters wide and 7-8 meters deep. In 1929 they built the north gate, which was the biggest lock in Europe in their time.

Over the years, the 27 -kilometer-long channel was repeatedly deepened and widened to 300 meters. Today, the maximum allowable depth is 13.72 meters.

Size of the locks

The canal was dug by hand. The workers lived under appalling conditions in wooden huts made of flotsam and clay or in burrows. Those lucky enough to live in a barn, had to pay exorbitant rents. Diseases, fights and alcohol abuse were commonplace.

The opening by King William III. took place on 1 November 1876.

The lateral channels

The North Sea Canal and the separated IJ have ten side channels. These connect the rivers and canals, which ended after the reclamation in IJ or Wijkermeer, with the North Sea Canal or the separated IJ.

• A side channel connects the port of Beverwijk, with the North Sea Canal
• Side channel B Spaarndam association with the North Sea Canal, but was closed in the 1960s ( construction of the dam for the A9) and is now serving as a berth for residential boats or canoe route.
• Side channel C Spaarndam connects with the North Sea Canal at Buitenhuizen, is also an important drainage point for the water board Rijnland.
• Side Channel D combines the Nauersche Vaart with the North Sea Canal
• Side channel E is a short canal connects the North Sea with the south - Westzaan channel.
• Side Channel F Halfweg association with the channel and is mostly filled. The residues at Halfweg are connected via the pumping station Rijnland with the Amerikahafen on Westpoort, an important drainage line to the North Sea Canal.
• Side channel G connects Zaandam and thus the Zaan with the North Sea Canal.
• Side channel H Barndegat connects with the North Sea Canal
• Side channel I input connects the Ostzaaner Overtoom with the separated IJ.
• Side channel K connects the port of Nieuwendam with the separated IJ.

The dewatering of the canal to the North Sea through via a flushing sluice and with the currently largest pumping station in Europe, in IJmuiden. These structures are very important for the drainage of the western Netherlands.

The IJ is connected by four locks, with the IJsselmeer.

Bridges and tunnels

Under or over the channel there are the following tunnels and bridges:

• Bridges over the locks in IJmuiden
• Railway tunnel Velsen (1957 )
• Highway tunnel Velsen (1957 )
• Hemtunnel ( railway Amsterdam - Zaandam ) ( 1983)
• Coen Tunnel, A10 (1966 )
• IJtunnel ( road tunnel ) ( 1968)
• Schellingwouder Bridge ( 1957)
• Zeeburgertunnel (1990 )
• Wijkertunnel (1995 )
• Metro tunnel ( under construction)

In addition, various ferries on the North Sea Canal and the IJ.