Winschoterdiep

The Winschoterdiep is a canal in the Dutch province of Groningen. The channel runs from the terminal to the Emskanal at Groningen to Winschoten. Before Winschoten branches, another channel in the direction of the Pekel Aa. The Winschoterdiep has a length of 35.5 kilometers and has three locks, two of them at the fork in the PLC Wildervanck channel. The Winschoterdiep can be navigated by vessels of up to 1,300 t. 16 bridges span the canal.

The origin of the Winschoterdiep is the section that has been created between 1618-1628 Foxhol and Zuidbroek as a drainage channel. Between 1634 and 1636 this piece was extended to the west up to the Hunze, and eastward as far as Winschoten and Pekel Aa.

The route of the Winschoterdiep has been adapted over the years several times. There was the end of the channel earlier in Oosterhaven in Groningen (part of the canal belt around the Groningen city center ), the channel opens today 1.5 km further east into the van Starkenborghkanaal.

Between Hoogezand and Waterhuizen are several shipyards that specialize in the construction of coasters. The width of these vessels is limited by the width of the bridges of Winschoterdiep.