Bergse Maas

Bergse Maas
Keizersveer bridge across the Bergse Maas near Geertruidenberg; to the right, the mouth of the Oude Maasje.
Specifications
Locks	None
Maximum height above sea level	7 ft (2.1 m)
Status	Open
History
Former names	Bergsche Maas
Modern name	Bergse Maas
Date of first use	1904
Date completed	1904
Geography
Start point	River Meuse at Heusden
End point	Amer estuary at Geertruidenberg
Connects to	River Donge, river Oude Maasje

The Bergse Maas (pre-1947 spelling: Bergsche Maas) is a canal that was constructed in 1904 to be a branch of the Maas River (French: Meuse) in the Dutch province of North Brabant. The Maas splits near Heusden into the Afgedamde Maas and the Bergse Maas. The Afgedamde Maas flows north until its confluence with the river Waal (the main distributary of the river Rhine) to form the Merwede, while the Bergse Maas continues west as the main distributary of the Maas. Part of the Merwede (the Nieuwe Merwede) rejoins the Bergse Maas to from the Hollands Diep estuary.

Historically, a natural branch of the Maas flowed from Heusden to the Amer and Hollands Diep estuary; this branch silted up and now forms a stream called Oude Maasje. The Bergse Maas, which takes its name from the town of Geertruidenberg, was constructed in its basin to take over its functions, in 1904. The other main distributary of the Maas was at the same time dammed-up and renamed Afgedamde Maas ("Dammed-up Meuse"). The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Maas reduced the risk of flooding and is considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works.

There are two road bridges and three car ferries. The latter are free of charge, as promised to the people living in the area when the Bergse Maas was dug, but as of 2004, a fee of €1.00 is charged for cars. For pedestrians, the ferries remain free of charge.

Coordinates: 51°43′N 4°56′E / 51.717°N 4.933°E / 51.717; 4.933