Van Harinxmakanaal
The lock Tsjerk Hiddessluizen situated at the connection to the Harlingen harbour maintains the water level in the canal. The canal water level is connected to the water system called Friese boezem, consisting of lakes, waterways and canals in Friesland.
Biology
The van Harinxmakanaal has allowed the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) to move freely to new habitats in lakes and rivers in Friesland since 2002. However the banks of the canal are unsuitable for otters as there is no vegetation.
Capacity
The canal has been engineered to allow CEMT class IV vessels to transverse. These can have a draft of 3 m, a maximum length of 105 m, width 9.5 m and be up to 2000 tonnes. The height limit under bridges is 5.45 m.
| year | traffic | reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3328 | |
| 2011 | 3956 |
Crossing points
van Harinxmakanaal is crossed by a number of bridges or aqueducts. The following are derived from Google Maps.
| No. | Name | Kind | Crossing | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Tsjerk Hiddessluizen | Road bridge (2 Bascule bridges) |
 N 390 Harlingen - Almenum (Oude Ringmuur) |
|
| B2 | Koningsbrug | road bridge (Bascule bridge) |
Midlum - Harlingen | 
|
| A1 | Akwadukt Van Harinxmakanaal | aqueduct |  N 31 Zurich - Drachten (Waadseewei) |
|
| B3 | Brug Kiesterzijl | road bridge (swing bridge) |
Kiesterzijl - Kie | 
|
| B4 | Frisiabrêge | road bridge (bascule bridge) |
 N 384 Tzummarum - Deersum (Burg. J. Dijkstraweg) |
|
| B5 | Stationsbrug | road bridge (double-beam drawbridge) |
Franeker - Tzum (Stationsweg) |
|
| B6 | Brug Dronrijp | road bridge (bascule bridge) |
Dronrijp - Winsum (It Heech) |
|
| B7 | Brug Ritsumazijl | road bridge (bascule bridge) |
Ritsumazijl - Deinum (Hegedijk) |
|
| A2 | Richard Hageman Aquaduct | aqueduct | N 31 Zurich - Drachten |
|
| A3 | Margaretha Zelle Akwadukt | aqueduct | Leeuwarden - Deinum (Johannes Brandsmaweg) |
|
| B8 | Spoorbrug HRM | rail bridge (swing bridge) |
Leeuwarden - Harlingen (Harlingen–Nieuweschans railway) Leeuwarden - Stavoren (Leeuwarden–Stavoren railway) |
|
| B9 | Spoorbrug HRMK | rail bridge (swing bridge) |
Leeuwarden - Arnhem (Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway) |
|
| B10 | Van Harinxmabrug | road bridge (2 bascule bridges) |
Leeuwarden - Goutum (Overijsselselaan) |
|
| A4 | M.C. Escher Akwadukt | aqueduct | Leeuwarden - Drachten (Drachtsterweg) |
|
Tributaries
A number of smaller canals and water courses connect with the varinxmakanaal. These are shallower and have lower bridge clearances but may be suitable for recreational vessels.
| Name | From | Direction | To | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noordergracht | Tsjerk Hiddesluizen | southeast | ||
| Ried | North and South | |||
| Verbindingkanal | Koningsbrug | Southwest | Franekertrekvaart, central Harlingen | |
| Harlingertrekvaart | East | Moorings | ||
| Marconihaven | Harlingen east | north | Harbour | |
| Achlumer Feart | Harlingen east | South | Achlum | |
| Arumer Feart | Franeker | Southwest | Arum, Achlum | |
| Franeker Watersport Vereniging | North | |||
| Tsjomer Feart | Franeker | East-southeast | Tzum | |
| Krommer Gracht | Franeker | West | NW Franeker | |
| Noorder Gracht | Franeker | North | Doanjumer Feart | |
| Alde Trekfeart | Franeker | West | Noorder Gracht | |
| Frjentsjerter Feart / Franekervaart | Franeker | Southeast | Winsum, Easterlittens | |
| Hatsumer Opfeart | Southeast | Hatsum | ||
| Harnzer Trekfeart | Dronrijp | Northeast | ||
| Dronrijp | West | Trailerhelling Dronryp | ||
| Longebuorster Feart | Southeast | non-navigable | ||
| Puolfeart | De Poelen | North | non-navigable | |
| Molesleat | Southwest | |||
| Boalserter Feart | South | Bolsward | ||
| Menamer Feart | Deinum | Northwest | Menaldum | |
| De Swette | Leeuwarden | South | Sneek |
A pumping station was built next to the Richard Hageman Aquaduct in 2014. This pumps water from the adjacent polders after it comes through a wetland to remove sludge.
Incidents
The opening of Spoorbrug HRMK broke down on 7 September 2021, closing the canal to shipping at this point. A cylinder was replaced restoring function on 4 October 2021.
See also
References
- ^ "Van Harinxma Kanaal & Kleiroute | Netherlands | european-waterways.eu: Description of waters, Facilities, Travel Information". www.european-waterways.eu. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Symposium: Maritieme Geschiedenis van Harlingen". Historische Vereniging Noordoost-Friesland (in Dutch). 23 January 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Pech voor pleziervaart: sluis Harlingen door droogte minder vaak open en dicht". www.lc.nl (in Dutch). Leeuwarder Courant. 2 July 2018.
- ^ Louman, J. P. A. (2007). Fries waterstaatsbestuur: een geschiedenis van de waterbeheersing in Friesland vanaf het midden van de achttiende eeuw tot omstreeks 1970 (in Dutch). Amsterdam University Press. p. 96. ISBN 9789056294656.
- ^ Brussaard, Martin (June 2021). "Our significant otter" (PDF). pp. 23, 26. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "SFT equips Van Harinxma Kanaal with fender systems - ShibataFenderTeam". shibata-fender.team. 23 May 2018.
- ^ ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE Working Party on Inland Water Transport (1998). "INVENTORY OF MAIN STANDARDS AND PARAMETERS OF THE E WATERWAY NETWORK ("BLUE BOOK")" (PDF). Geneva. p. 23.
- ^ Dutch Inland navigation Information Agency (30 October 2017). "The power of inland navigation The future of freight transport and inland navigation in Europe 2013 -2014" (PDF). p. 44.
- ^ Het Friese Marenproject (13 January 2010). "Middelseerûte" (PDF).
- ^ Trailerhelling.com. "Trailerhelling.com - Boat launch Ljouwertertrekwei 38, Dronryp". www.trailerhelling.com. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
- ^ "Nieuw Stroomland nazuiverend gemaal Leeuwarden, New Stream land water pumping station waterharmonica". Makan. 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Grote spoedreparatie aan HRMK bij Leeuwarden". www.prorail.nl (in Dutch). 4 October 2021.
