Meuse

The Meuse River

The Meuse River, also called the Maas, is a big river in Europe. It starts in France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands. The river ends at the North Sea where it joins the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta.

The Meuse is very long, about 925 kilometers or 575 miles. Many towns and cities grew along its banks. For hundreds of years, the river has been important for travel and trade. It also supplies water for people and animals nearby.

Where It Flows

The Meuse River begins in a place called Pouilly-en-Bassigny, near Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse in France. It flows north through France, passing by towns like Sedan and Charleville-Mézières, and then enters Belgium.

In Belgium, the river meets another river called the Sambre near Namur. It then winds east and goes through Liège before heading north. The Meuse forms part of the border between Belgium and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, it continues north through places like Venlo and then turns west. It joins with other rivers to form a big area where many rivers meet, called the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, before flowing into the North Sea.

Important Facts

The Meuse has many bridges and can be used by boats for most of its length. It helps connect big cities and industrial areas. Near Maasbracht, a part of the river that boats cannot use is bypassed by a canal called the Juliana Canal. The river also connects to other canals, allowing boats to travel far up the river.

The river’s name is linked to an ancient sea reptile called the Mosasaurus, whose first fossils were found near Maastricht.

In Songs

The river Meuse is mentioned in some songs. It is in the old German song called the Deutschlandlied. Today, only a small part of this song is used as Germany’s national anthem. The river’s name is also in the title of another song called "Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse". This song became very popular after a war between France and Prussia in 1870.