A rivier is a river. The largest rivers in the Netherlands are the Rhine (“Rijn”), Scheldt (“Schelde”), and Meuse (“Maas”).
Rivers have always been an important mode of transportation in the Netherlands. Many prosperous cities can be found near rivers. People traveled on rivers in trekschuiten (pulled barges).
Emigrants from other parts of Europe used rivers to come to the Netherlands; either to settle, or as transients on their way to America. For example, the Rhine river brought many emigrants from the Rhineland Palatinate, many of whom left via Rotterdam; among them the ancestors of singer Josh Groban.
River in winter, mid 1600s. Credits: Aert van der Neer, collection Rijksmuseum (public domain)
About Yvette Hoitink
