ICPR – International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine

Delta Rhine

In Lobith, on the border between the Netherlands and Germany, the Rhine branches off into two main branches flowing west. The southern main branch consisting of the sections Waal – Merwede – Noord – Nieuwe Maas is the largest and most important river line of the delta and transports 2/3 of the Rhine water. The kilometre marking of the Rhine follows the main stream.

The northern branch – the Nederrijn and later R. Lek flows into R. Noord and the Nieuwe Maas. The northwards heading (Geldersche) Ijssel also branches off the Nederrijn.

In several places, the lower courses of these river branches are naturally and artificially interlinked in the Rhine-Maas-Delta and with the R. Maas.

From a geological point of view, the Rhine-Maas-(Scheldt) delta is no older than 6000 years. Sediment thickness may achieve 60 meters. About half of the area is less than one meter above and about a quarter is below sea level. Some 3000 km of dikes protect the delta against storm tides.

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Did you know ...

that the famous painter Rembrandt has the Rhine in his name?

The complete name of the son of a miller born 15th July 1606 in the Dutch town of Leiden was “Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn” – that means “the son of Harmen van Rijn“.

“Van Rijn” was no title of nobility, but an epithet of his father whose mill was on the Rhine.