The Gouwe is a channelized river in South Holland, the Netherlands. It runs from north to south - from the Oude Rijn to the Hollandse IJssel.[1]

Gouwe
Vertical lift bridge over the river Gouwe at Alphen aan den Rijn
Location of the Gouwe in dark blue.
Location
CountryThe Netherlands
StateSouth Holland
Physical characteristics
SourceOude Rijn
 • locationAlphen aan den Rijn, South Holland
 • coordinates52°07′07″N 4°40′28″E / 52.11861°N 4.67444°E / 52.11861; 4.67444
MouthHollandse IJssel
 • location
Gouda, South Holland
 • coordinates
51°59′50″N 4°41′28″E / 51.99722°N 4.69111°E / 51.99722; 4.69111
Length14 km (8.7 mi)

Flow

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From Alphen aan den Rijn, where the Gouwe begins, it flows through Boskoop and Waddinxveen to Gouda.[2] Here it splits into the old stream (which runs through the city of Gouda) and into the Gouwekanaal [nl] on the city's west side. Both branches connect with the Hollandse IJssel on the southern outskirts of Gouda.

History

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The Gouwe was formed around 1222 as a reservoir for the adjacent polders, this was needed as peat excavation lead to a stream of peat going southward towards the Hollandse IJssel. A second part was then dug towards the Oude Rijn. With time the river also became important for shipping.[3] This made Gouda an important city for shipping and one of the most affluent in Holland.[1] The Gouwe was historically part of the primary (and prescribed) shipping-route in Holland, connecting Dordrecht in the south with Haarlem and - later on - with Amsterdam to the north. These cities, together with the Counts of Holland who collected tolls at Gouda and at Spaarndam, maintained this arrangement - to the dissatisfaction of the cities of Delft and Leiden, which this route bypassed.

Today the Gouwe remains an important shipping-route. At the Oude Rijn, river travel can be continued north over the Aar Canal. It also functions as the main water outlet for the Rijnland region.

Sights

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Three striking vertical lift bridges cross the Gouwe at Alphen aan den Rijn, Boskoop, and Waddinxveen.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rake Vragen: hoe liep de rivier de Gouwe oorspronkelijk?" (in Dutch). Omroep West. 27 February 2018. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021.
  2. ^ Rietstap, J.B. (1892). Beknopt aardrijkskundig woordenboek van Nederland en zijne koloniën (in Dutch). J.B. Wolters. p. 181. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  3. ^ Kruiswijk, Willem. "De Gouwe, van veenstroom tot gekanaliseerde rivier". canonvannederland.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 21 September 2023.