The van Harinxmakanaal is a major canal in western Frisland. It runs from the sea at Harlingen eastwards to Leeuwarden. Major places along the canal include Franeker, Dronrijp and Deinum. The canal is 37.5 kilometers long. It was named after Pieter Albert Vincent van Harinxma thoe Slooten in 1950 who was King's Commissioner to Friesland from 1909 to 1945. Prior to this date it was called Harlinger Trekvaart. However this was widened and deepened, and a few corners cut off in 1951. At Suawoude it joins the Prinses Margriet Canal.
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.
+Table of traffic traversing Tsjerk Hidessluizenyeartrafficreference 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 ImageB1 Tsjerk Hiddessluizen Road bridge (2 Bascule bridges) Harlingen - Almenum (Oude Ringmuur) B2Koningsbrug road bridge(Bascule bridge) Midlum - Harlingen A1 Akwadukt Van Harinxmakanaal aqueduct Zurich - Drachten (Waadseewei) B3 Brug Kiesterzijl road bridge(swing bridge) Kiesterzijl - Kie B4 Frisiabrêge road bridge(bascule bridge) 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 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. +Canals and tributariesNamekmFromDirectionToReference36.9Tsjerk HiddesluizensoutheastRied36.4North and SouthVerbindingkanalKoningsbrugSouthwestFranekertrekvaart, central HarlingenHarlingertrekvaart35.35EastMooringsMarconihaven34.8Harlingen eastnorthHarbourAchlumer Feart34.6Harlingen eastSouthAchlumArumer Feart / Arumervaart29.7FranekerSouthwestArum, AchlumFraneker Watersport Vereniging29.2NorthTsjomer FeartFranekerEast-southeastTzumKrommer Gracht28.6FranekerWestNW FranekerNoorder Gracht28.3FranekerNorthDoanjumer FeartAlde Trekfeart27.3FranekerWestNoorder GrachtFrjentsjerter Feart / Franekervaart25.5FranekerSoutheastWinsum, EasterlittensHatsumer OpfeartSoutheastHatsum (cutoff)22.4DronrijpNortheastDronrijpWestTrailerhelling Dronryp / Lange BuurstervaartSoutheastnon-navigablePuolfeartDe PoelenNorthnon-navigableMolesleatSouthwest / Bolswarder Vaart17.3SouthBolsward15.8SoutheastBlessumDeinumNorthwestMenaldum11.8LeeuwardenSouthSneekMiddelsee GoutumSouthHimpenserdijkbrugSouthGoutum, de Klamp, Wiarda?DrachtsterwegM.C. Escher AquaductNorthNauwe GreunsSouthTeerns, Hempens, ZuiderburenWide GroensNorthWoudmansdiepNorthWergeasterfeartHmpenser WielenSouthWergeaAlde Lune2.8NorthLouwsmeerNijdijp1.2Lange MeerNorthTytsjerk
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 A petrol station at Franeker was hit off the shore by MS Noordborg while trying to take a bend after passing a bridge on September 3, 1969. Nobody was hurt, but the damage was several thousand guilders.
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 Dronrijp Reprisals
References