Editing Zuid-Willemsvaart (section)

== History ==

=== Plans ===
Previous to the construction of the Zuid-Willemsvaart, there were many plans for making a canal from 's-Hertogenbosch towards the Belgian border. Most of these centered on canalizing the [[Aa (Meuse)|Aa]], the stream bed of which is closely followed by the Zuid-Willemsvaart for most of its route. The geographical proximity to the Aa indicates a relation between these older plans and the construction of the Zuid-Willemsvaart, but the relation is only in the suitability of the [[drainage basin]] of the Aa for digging most of the Zuid-Willemsvaart.

When the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] was founded in 1815, its commercial center was formed by the harbors in the west, but its industrial center was near [[Liège]]. Communication between the two over the Meuse was difficult until the funds to create a canal became available. The Zuid-Willemsvaart was planned as a shortcut of the [[river]] [[Meuse]] between the cities of [[Maastricht]] and [['s-Hertogenbosch]]. It shortened the distance of shipping traffic from 233&nbsp;km to 122&nbsp;km, but that was not a primary goal of constructing the canal. The canal was dug with little regard for connecting local communities.

The problem of the Meuse river was the relatively big height difference upwards of Venlo. This was 34&nbsp;cm/km, or three times that of the Rhine near Emmerich. It caused that in summer there was often too little water in the Meuse for shipping. And in the winter there was often so much water that navigation became dangerous. Towing ships or barges upriver was difficult in all seasons. A canal that cut corners and went through a more flat terrain would be a far more reliable waterway. It would always have enough water and would allow easy transport upstream.{{sfn|Anonymous|1859|p=4}}

=== Design ===
On 23 February 1818 Inspector General A.F. Goudriaan got orders to design the canal from Maastricht to 's-Hertogenbosch. On 15 May 1819 he presented his design. It called for a canal of 2.1 m deep, 10 m wide at the floor and 18 m wide on the water level. Practical draught for ships would be 188&nbsp;cm. On the first stretch between Maastricht and the lock at Hocht, this draught would later be only 157&nbsp;cm in case of draught. The canal would have 19 locks. Each with a passage width of 7 m and a length of at least 50 m.{{sfn|Anonymous|1859|p=4}}

=== Naming ===
In this perspective, the naming of the canal after [[Willem I of the Netherlands|King William I]] of the [[Netherlands]] on 11 November 1822 is justified. "South" was added to avoid confusion with two other canals commissioned by and named after the king: the [[Willemskanaal]] near [[Zwolle]] and the [[Noord-Willemskanaal]] in [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] province. The naming happened on 11 November 1822, when the first stone of the constructions on the canal (locks, bridges etc.) was laid in 's-Hertogenbosch at Lock 1 {{lang|nl|Sluis 1}}. This was done by the governor of Limburg.<ref name=NS19111822>{{Cite news |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010050073:mpeg21:p002 | work = Nederlandsche staatscourant | title= Binnenlandsche Berigten | date= 19 November 1822 }}</ref>

=== Initial Construction ===
The first part of the canal that was constructed, was the part from 's-Hertogenbosch to Veghel, and from there to Helmond. This part was tendered on 10 April 1822. The digging was offered in six lots. Between 's-Hertogenbosch and Veghel it was to have three or four locks and a number of drawbridges and [[culvert]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010049815:mpeg21:p005 | work = Nederlandsche staatscourant | title= Bijvoegsel (addendum)| date= 18 March 1822 }}</ref> In November 1822 the construction of Lock 1 in 's-Hertogenbosch was started (cf. above).<ref name=NS19111822 />

The second part ran from Helmond to a point on the road between [[Someren]] and [[Asten, Netherlands|Asten]]. On 19 March 1823 digging this stretch was offered in two lots, and was tendered together with three locks on the already dug out stretch between Veghel and Helmond, and the drawbridges and culverts on that stretch.<ref name=SC12031823>{{Cite news |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010049399:mpeg21:p002 | work = Nederlandsche staatscourant | title= Ministerie van Binnenlandsche Zaken en Waterstaat| date= 12 March 1823 }}</ref> Also in 1823, a third part was tendered on 25 March. It was tendered in two lots and consisted of the already present waterway below [[Lanaken|Smeermaas]], through the Caberg to the fortress of Maastricht.<ref name=SC12031823/>

In 1824 a fourth, fifth and sixth part were tendered. The fourth part stretched from the road between Someren and Asten to the provincial boundary between North Brabant and Limburg. It was tendered on 25 February 1824, together with 6 locks between Helmond and the provincial boundary as well as a drawbridge and culverts.<ref name=SC31011824>{{Cite news |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010048956:mpeg21:p004 | work = Nederlandsche staatscourant | title= Ministerie van Binnenlandsche Zaken en Waterstaat| date= 31 January 1824}}</ref> On 2 March 1824 the fifth part was tendered. This consisted of: Digging the canal from the provincial boundary to its junction with the former Noorderkanaal, or Grand Canal du Nord. The renovation of the Grand Canal du Nord on the stretch that was part of the Zuid-Willemsvaart, and the construction or completion of some of its infrastructure. Building six locks, 10 drawbridges and a number of culverts.<ref name=SC31011824/> On 16 March 1824 a sixth part was tendered. It consisted of: Digging the basin, or city harbor in Maastricht, with a lock on the Meuse. Executing a lot of works to lead the canal through the fortification of Maastricht, including three tunnels through the walls, and towards the basin.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010048990:mpeg21:p004 | work = Nederlandsche staatscourant | title= Ministerie van Binnenlandsche Zaken en Waterstaat| date= 11 March 1824}}</ref>

On 14 September 1825 the construction of the canal through 's-Hertogenbosch was tendered. This also included the construction of three bridges inside the city. A flood lock was planned on the eastern city walls. It had the peculiar characteristic of being mainly planned to cause or maintain a flood, instead of preventing it. However, the technique was the same as that of a flood lock. It was also a double flood lock, and therefore it could be used to lift ships, which came in handy if it caused or maintained a flood. However, in normal circumstances the flood lock would be open, and therefore it was not in the numbered list of locks. When it later began to permanently function as a lock, it was named [[Sluis 0]], or Lock 0, because it was just downstream of Lock 1.

=== Opening ===
The canal was opened in Maastricht on 24 August 1826. The opening was done by the governor of Limburg. After a speech, the dignitaries sailed down the canal to Smeermaas and disembarked near Hocht. They then continued to Pietersheim Manor ({{lang|nl|Kasteel Pietersheim}}) by carriage. After a splendid dinner the company arrived back in the basin of Maastricht near 8 o'clock in the evening. Meanwhile, many festivities for the population had taken place. At 10 o'clock in the evening the ball for the upper class started. It featured loaded tables, and continued until the early morning.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010048212:mpeg21:p002 | work = Nederlandsche staatscourant | title= Maastricht, den 25 Augustus | date= 31 March 1826}}</ref>

=== The nineteenth century ===
The canal created new possibilities for development of the poor towns on the sandy grounds of North Brabant. In [[Helmond]] a [[textile manufacturing]] industry was developed. In [[Veghel]] the harbor attracted several industries. In Weert many [[fir]] were planted after transport to Maastricht and Liège became feasible. In many villages of North-Brabant it also became profitable to rear cattle for customers outside the province.{{sfn|Kops|1828|p=110}}

One of the first activities on the canal was a regular service for passengers and freight between 's-Hertogenbosch and Maastricht. The journey took two days, with an overnight stay in Weert.

=== Belgian independence ===
The secession of the southern portion of the country in 1830 created an unexpected situation: the canal was closed for cross-border traffic. It led to a prolonged closure, but on 22 June 1839 the first barge with a Belgian flag arrived in Helmond from Liège. It was loaded with iron goods and [[roof shingle]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010244012:mpeg21:p0032 | work = Bredasche courant | title= Nederlanden | date= 27 June 1839}}</ref> In 1841 over 4,000 ships and barges passed the canal.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010175583:mpeg21:p002 | work = Noord-Brabander | title= Verslag nopens den Staat der Provincie Noord-Braband | date= 12 July 1842}}</ref>

In 1846 the [[Eindhovensch Kanaal]] was opened. It connected Eindhoven to the canal just below Helmond. In the 1850s irrigation works in the Belgian Campine and surroundings dramatically increased the flow of water to the Zuid-Willemsvaart. This led to the water actually flowing over the lock doors of the canal.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010078008:mpeg21:p002 | work = Noord-Brabanter | title= Nederland | date= 24 February 1853}}</ref>

=== Wessem-Nederweert Canal ===
In the 1920s the [[Wessem-Nederweert Canal]] was constructed. It starts at the Meuse near Wessem, and connects to the Zuid-Willemsvaart just south of Nederweert, where the Zuid-Willemsvaart makes a 90 degree turn to the southwest. During construction, lock 14 and lock 15, north of the junction were demolished. A new Lock 15 was built just west of the junction, and a lock was built at the western end of the Noordervaart. The new lock 15 bridged a rise of 4.85&nbsp;m. Lock 16, southwest of Weert was renovated. Both locks got an increased passage width of 7.50&nbsp;m instead of 7&nbsp;m. The cill of the locks was laid deeper, at 2.50&nbsp;m below canal level.{{sfn|Rijkswaterstaat|1966 I|p=3}} In 1964 there was more traffic on the Wessem-Nederweert Canal than on any part of the Zuid-Willemsvaart.{{sfn|Rijkswaterstaat|1966 I|p=Bijlage 3}}