The Apeldoorn Canal was dug on the initiative of King William I, the ‘canal builder’. The canal was initially intended to stimulate industry in the region, but later also became a through shipping route. The canal has been closed since 1972, but there are far-reaching plans to make part of it navigable again. William I, […]
The Apeldoorn Canal was dug on the initiative of King William I, the ‘canal builder’. The canal was initially intended to stimulate industry in the region, but later also became a through shipping route. The canal has been closed since 1972, but there are far-reaching plans to make part of it navigable again.
William I, the canal builder
In the time around 1800, there were hardly any paved roads and certainly no railway lines. Canals were the most important transportation routes. This also explains why King William I ordered the digging of a 32 km long canal from Apeldoorn via Heerde to the IJssel near Hattem. He paid for this from his own resources and thus tried to stimulate the economic activity of Apeldoorn and the surrounding area. Not without self-interest, because his summer palace Het Loo also benefited from this. The canal opened in 1829. About 40 years later, the canal was extended to the IJssel near Dieren.
Decrease in importance
From the end of the 19th century, the canal faced competition from the railway. In 1940 WWII, all 42 movable bridges were blown up by the Dutch army. After the war everything was restored, but highways and increasing freight traffic took over from freight transport by ship. This northern part of the canal was therefore closed in 1962, the southern part followed in 1972.
New life for Apeldoorn’s canal
Nowadays, the closure of the Apeldoorn Canal is looked back on with some regret. It is not only an important cultural-historical element and a source of canal romance, but could also be very useful for pleasure boating. In 2012, the province of Gelderland released a large amount of money to make part of the canal navigable again.
- Category:
- Landmark
- Outdoor recreation
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