Meuse

For the French administrative division, see Meuse (department).

Meuse
The Meuse at Dinant
Basin of the Meuse
Native name	Meuse (French) Moûze (Walloon) Maas (Dutch) Maos (Limburgish)
Location
Countries	France Belgium Netherlands
Region	Western Europe
Cities	Verdun (France) Sedan (France) Charleville-Mézières (France) Namur (Belgium) Liège (Belgium) Maastricht (Netherlands) Venlo (Netherlands) Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Pouilly-en-Bassigny, Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse, Haute-Marne, Grand Est, France
• coordinates	47.9867°N 5.6167°E / 47.9867; 5.6167
• elevation	409 m (1,342 ft)
Mouth	North Sea
• location	Hollands Diep, North Brabant/South Holland, Netherlands
• coordinates	51.715°N 4.6678°E / 51.715; 4.6678
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	925 km (575 mi)
Basin size	34,548 km2 (13,339 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	350 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s)

The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of 925 km (575 miles).

History

From 1301, the upper Meuse roughly marked the western border of the Holy Roman Empire with the Kingdom of France, after Count Henry III of Bar had to receive the western part of the County of Bar (Barrois mouvant) as a French fief from the hands of King Philip IV. In 1408, a Burgundian army led by John the Fearless went to the aid of John III against the citizens of Liège, who were in open revolt. After the battle, which saw the men from Liège defeated, John ordered the drowning in the Meuse of burghers and noblemen in Liège whose loyalties he suspected.

The border remained relatively stable until the annexation of the Three Bishoprics Metz, Toul and Verdun by King Henry II in 1552 and the occupation of the Duchy of Lorraine by the forces of King Louis XIII in 1633. Its lower Belgian (Walloon) portion, part of the sillon industriel, was the first fully industrialized area in continental Europe.

Auguste Paul Charles Anastasi, Bank of the Meuse at Zwindrecht (Holland), c. 1857, lithograph, [https://www.nga.gov/research/library/imagecollections.html Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC

]

The Afgedamde Maas was created in the late Middle Ages, when a major flood made a connection between the Maas and the Merwede at the town of Woudrichem. From that moment on, the current Afgedamde Maas was the main branch of the lower Meuse. The former main branch eventually silted up and is today called the Oude Maasje. In the late 19th century and early 20th century the connection between the Maas and Rhine was closed off and the Maas was given a new, artificial mouth – the Bergse Maas. The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Maas reduced the risk of flooding and was considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works. The former main branch was, after the dam at its southern inlet was completed in 1904, renamed Afgedamde Maas and no longer receives water from the Maas.

The Meuse and its crossings were a key objective of the Battle of France, the Battle of Sedan and also for the last major German WWII counter-offensive on the Western Front, the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945.

The Meuse is represented in the documentary The River People released in 2012 by Xavier Istasse.

In July 2021, the Meuse basin was one of the many regions in Europe to experience catastrophic flooding during the 2021 European floods.

Etymology

The name Meuse is derived from the French name of the river, derived from its Latin name, Mosa, which ultimately derives from the Celtic or Proto-Celtic name *Mosā. This probably derives from the same root as English "maze", referring to the river's twists and turns.

The Dutch name Maas descends from Middle Dutch Mase, which comes from the presumed but unattested Old Dutch form *Masa, from Proto-Germanic *Masō. Modern Dutch and German Maas and Limburgish Maos preserve this Germanic form. Despite the similarity, the Germanic name is not derived from the Celtic name, judging from the change from earlier o into a, which is characteristic of the Germanic languages.

Geography

The Meuse seen from SPOT satellite. The village in the lower right of the photo is Bogny-sur-Meuse; the village in the upper left is Revin.

The Meuse rises in Pouilly-en-Bassigny, commune of Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse on the Langres plateau in France from where it flows northwards past Sedan (the head of navigation) and Charleville-Mézières into Belgium.

At Namur it is joined by the Sambre. Beyond Namur the Meuse winds eastwards and passes Liège before turning north. The river then forms part of the Belgian-Dutch border, except that at Maastricht the border lies further to the west. In the Netherlands it continues northwards through Venlo closely along the border to Germany, then turns towards the west, where it runs parallel to the Waal and forms part of the extensive Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, together with the Scheldt to its south and the Rhine to the north. The river has been divided near Heusden into the Afgedamde Maas on the right and the Bergse Maas on the left. The Bergse Maas continues under the name of Amer, which is part of De Biesbosch. The Afgedamde Maas joins the Waal, the main stem of the Rhine at Woudrichem, and then flows under the name of Boven Merwede to Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where it splits into Nieuwe Merwede and Beneden Merwede. Near Lage Zwaluwe, the Nieuwe Merwede joins the Amer, forming the Hollands Diep, which splits into Grevelingen and Haringvliet, before finally flowing into the North Sea.

The Meuse is crossed by railway bridges between the following stations (on the left and right banks respectively):

• Belgium:
  • Hasselt (Belgium) – Maastricht (Netherlands)
• Netherlands:
  • Weert - Roermond
  • Blerick – Venlo
  • Cuijk – Mook-Molenhoek
  • Ravenstein – Wijchen
  • 's-Hertogenbosch – Zaltbommel

There are also numerous road bridges and around 32 ferry crossings.

The Meuse is navigable over a substantial part of its total length: In the Netherlands and Belgium, the river is part of the major inland navigation infrastructure, connecting the Rotterdam-Amsterdam-Antwerp port areas to the industrial areas upstream: 's-Hertogenbosch, Venlo, Maastricht, Liège, Namur. Between Maastricht and Maasbracht, an unnavigable section of the Meuse is bypassed by the 36 km (22.4 mi) Juliana Canal. South of Namur, further upstream, the river can only carry more modest vessels, although a barge as long as 100 m (328 ft). can still reach the French border town of Givet.

From Givet, the river is canalized over a distance of 272 kilometres (169 mi). The canalized Meuse used to be called the "Canal de l'Est — Branche Nord" but was recently rebaptized into "Canal de la Meuse". The waterway can be used by the smallest barges that are still in use commercially almost 40 m (131 ft) long and just over 5 metres (16 ft) wide. Just upstream of the town of Commercy, the Canal de la Meuse connects with the Marne–Rhine Canal by means of a short diversion canal.

The Cretaceous sea reptile Mosasaur is named after the river Meuse. The first fossils of it were discovered outside Maastricht in 1780.

A view of the Meuse in the French Ardennes at Laifour

Basin area

The Meuse and the Rochers de Freÿr, in front of the Castle of Freÿr south of Dinant

The Meuse at Namur, capital of Belgium's Wallonia

The Meuse at Liège, third river port of Europe

The Meuse (Maas) at Maastricht

Meuse near Gennep

Meuse near Grave

Meuse near Appeltern

An international agreement was signed in 2002 in Ghent, Belgium, about the management of the river amongst France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Also participating in the agreement were the Belgian regional governments of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels (which is not in the basin of the Meuse but pumps running water into the Meuse).

Most of the basin area (approximately 36,000 km²) is in Wallonia (12,000 km²), followed by France (9,000 km²), the Netherlands (8,000 km²), Germany (2,000 km²), Flanders (2,000 km²) and Luxembourg (a few km²).

An International Commission on the Meuse has the responsibility of the implementation of the treaty.

The costs of this Commission are met by all these countries, in proportion of their own territory in the basin of the Meuse: Netherlands 30%, Wallonia 30%, France 15%, Germany 14.5%, Flanders 5%, Brussels 4.5%, Kingdom of Belgium 0.5%, and Luxembourg 0.5%.

The map of the basin area of Meuse was joined to the text of the treaty.

As for culture, as a major communication route the River Meuse is the origin of Mosan art, principally (Wallonia and France).

The first landscape painted in the Renaissance was the landscape of Meuse by Joachim Patinir. He was likely the uncle of Henri Blès, who is sometimes defined as a Mosan landscape painter active during the second third of the 16th century (i.e. second generation of landscape painters).

Tributaries

The main tributaries of the Meuse are listed below in downstream-upstream order, with the town where the tributary meets the river:

• Dieze (near 's-Hertogenbosch)
  • Aa (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
  • Binnendieze (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
  • Dommel (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
    • Gender (in Eindhoven)
• Raam (in Grave)
• Niers (in Gennep)
• Swalm (in Swalmen)
• Rur/Roer (in Roermond)
  • Wurm (in Heinsberg, Germany)
  • Merzbach (in Linnich, Germany)
  • Inde (in Jülich, Germany)
• Kingbeek (near Illikhoven)
• Geleenbeek (near Maasbracht)
• Geul (near Meerssen)
• Geer/Jeker (in Maastricht)
  • Yerne (in Lens-sur-Geer)
• Voer/Fouron (in Eijsden)
• Berwinne/Berwijn (near Moelingen, part of Voeren)
• Ourthe (in Liège)
  • Weser/Vesdre (near Liège)
  • Amel/Amblève (in Comblain-au-Pont)
    • Salm (in Trois-Ponts)
    • Warche (near Malmedy)
• Hoyoux (in Huy)
• Mehaigne (in Wanze)
• Sambre (in Namur)
• Houyoux (in Namur)
• Bocq (in Yvoir)
• Molignée (in Anhée)
• Lesse (in Anseremme, part of Dinant)
• Viroin (in Vireux-Molhain)
• Faux (in Revin)
• Semois or Semoy (in Monthermé)
• Sormonne (in Warcq)
• Bar (near Dom-le-Mesnil)
• Chiers (in Bazeilles)
  • Othain (in Montmédy)
• Vair (in Maxey-sur-Meuse)
• Mouzon (in Neufchâteau, Vosges)
• Saônelle (in Coussey)

Distributaries

Main articles: Bergse Maas, Afgedamde Maas, Oude Maas, and Nieuwe Maas

The lower part of the Rhine-Meuse Delta

The mean annual discharge rate of the Meuse has been relatively stable over the last few thousand years. One recent study estimates that average flow has increased by about 10% since 2000 BC. The hydrological distribution of the Meuse changed during the later Middle Ages, when a major flood forced it to shift its main course northwards towards the river Merwede. From then on several stretches of the original Merwede were renamed "Maas" (i.e. Meuse) and served as the primary outflow of that river. Those branches are currently known as the Nieuwe Maas and Oude Maas.

However during another series of severe floods the Meuse found an additional path towards the sea, resulting in the creation of the Biesbosch wetlands and Hollands Diep estuaries. Thereafter the Meuse split near Heusden into two main distributaries, one flowing north to join the Merwede and one flowing direct to the sea. The branch of the Meuse leading direct to the sea eventually silted up (and now forms the Oude Maasje stream), but in 1904 the canalised Bergse Maas was dug to take over the functions of the silted-up branch. At the same time the branch leading to the Merwede was dammed at Heusden (and has since been known as the Afgedamde Maas) so that little water from the Meuse entered the old Maas courses or the Rhine distributaries. The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Meuse is considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works. In 1970 the Haringvlietdam has been finished. Since then the reunited Rhine and Meuse waters have reached the North Sea either at this site or, during times of lower discharges of the Rhine, at Hook of Holland.

A 2008 study notes that the difference between summer and winter flow volumes has increased significantly in the last 100–200 years. It points out that the frequency of serious floods (i.e. flows > 1000% of normal) has increased markedly. They predict that winter flooding of the Meuse may become a recurring problem in the coming decades.

Départements, provinces and towns

The Meuse flows through the following departments of France, provinces of Belgium, provinces of the Netherlands and towns:

• Haute-Marne
• Vosges: Neufchâteau
• Meuse: Commercy, Saint-Mihiel, Verdun, Stenay
• Ardennes: Sedan, Charleville-Mézières, Givet
• Namur: Dinant, Namur
• Liège: Huy, Liège, Visé
• Limburg: Eijsden, Maastricht, Stein, Maasbracht, Roermond, Venlo, Gennep
• Limburg: Stokkem, Maaseik (between Stein and Maasbracht)
• North Brabant: Boxmeer, Cuijk, Grave, Ravenstein, Lith, Heusden, Aalburg, Woudrichem
• Gelderland: Maasdriel
• South Holland: Dordrecht, Maassluis, Rotterdam

Detailed route

Main cities and tributaries will be in bold.

Region	Municipality on the left bank	Municipality on the right bank	Route
France Grand Est Region Haute-Marne Department	Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse	Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse	Source near Pouilly-en-Bassigny Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse Premier pont de la Meuse
	Dammartin-sur-Meuse	Dammartin-sur-Meuse	Malroy Pont de Malroy Pont du Pâtis des Vannees Ruisseau de Pré Chatenay
	Val-de-Meuse	Val-de-Meuse	Meuse Pont de Meuse (D429 Val-de-Meuse - Dombrot-le-Sec) Ruisseau d'Avrecourt Railway bridge Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line Ru d'Ouette Ru des Fossés Ruisseau de Bocheret Provenchères-sur-Meuse Pont de Val-de-Meuse (D189) Ruisseau des Aimeguenons Pont de l'A31 (A31 Nancy - Dijon) Ruisseau de Joncourt Pont de D132 Ruisseau de l'Étange Ruisseau du Grand Étange
	Lavilleneuve	Val-de-Meuse	Ruisseau de Rangecourt Pont de Lavilleneuve (D132) Le Viau
	Val-de-Meuse		Lénizeul Pont de D228
	Bassoncourt	Bassoncourt	Ruisseau du Soilleron Pont de Bassin Court sur la Meuse (D33)
	Breuvannes-en-Bassigny	Breuvannes-en-Bassigny	Ruisseau des Noues Meuvy Pont de Meuvy (D220)
	Clefmont	Clefmont	/
	Audeloncourt	Audeloncourt	Ruisseau du Grand Pré
	Levécourt	Levécourt	Ruisseau de la Hourie Levécourt Pont de Levécourt (D131)
	Huilliécourt	Doncourt-sur-Meuse	/
	Hâcourt	Hâcourt	Pont de Hâcourt
	Bourg-Sainte-Marie		Hâcourt Ruisseau de Piot
		Brainville-sur-Meuse	Pont de Bourg-Sainte-Marie (D119)
	Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon	Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon	Bourmont
	Saint-Thiébault		Saint-Thiébault Pont de Saint-Thiébault (D16) Ruisseau d'Illoud
	Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon		Pont de Gonaincourt (D119) Gonaincourt Le Mordé Pont de Bourmont sur la Meuse (D148) Goncourt
	Harréville-les-Chanteurs	Harréville-les-Chanteurs	Railway bridges Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line (2x) Harréville-les-Chanteurs Pont de Harréville-les-Chanteurs (D202)
France Grand Est Region Vosges Department	Bazoilles-sur-Meuse	Bazoilles-sur-Meuse	Railway bridges Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line (2x) Pont de Bazoilles-sur-Meuse (D74 Langres - Neufchâteau) Bazoilles-sur-Meuse
	Neufchâteau	Neufchâteau	Railway bridge Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line Neufchâteau Pont de Neufchâteau (D674 Chaumont - Neufchâteau) Mouzon Railway bridge at Neufchâteau railway station Pont All. Charles Péguy
	Frebécourt	Frebécourt	Pont de Frebécourt Frebécourt La Saônelle
	Coussey	Coussey	Coussey Pont de Coussey (D3)
	Domrémy-la-Pucelle	Domrémy-la-Pucelle	Pont de Domrémy-la-Pucelle (D164 Neufchâteau - Greux) Domrémy-la-Pucelle
	Greux	Maxey-sur-Meuse	Vair
	Maxey-sur-Meuse		Maxey-sur-Meuse Pont de D19
France Grand Est Region Meuse Department	Brixey-aux-Chanoines	Brixey-aux-Chanoines	Pont de Brixey-aux-Chanoines
	Sauvigny	Sauvigny	Ruisseau de Ruppes Sauvigny Pont de Sauvigny
	Montbras		/
	Sauvigny		Pont de Traveron Traveron
	Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte	Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte	Rivière de Chêtre Pont de Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte (D32) Rivière de Chêtre
	Montbras	Champougny	/
	Taillancourt		La Haute Meuse
	Champougny		Champougny Pont de Champougny
	Maxey-sur-Vaise	Maxey-sur-Vaise	/
	Burey-en-Vaux	Sepvigny	/
	Sepvigny		Pont de Sepvigny (D145)
	Neuville-lès-Vaucouleurs	Neuville-lès-Vaucouleurs	/
	Vaucouleurs	Chalaines	Chalaines Pont de Chalaines (D960 Toul - Bure) La Haute Meuse
	Ugny-sur-Meuse	Rigny-la-Salle	Le Goulot de Meuse Ugny-sur-Meuse
		Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse	Pont de Ugny-sur-Meuse (D36) Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse Pont de Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse (D144A)
	Ugny-sur-Meuse	Ourches-sur-Meuse	Ourches-sur-Meuse Pont de D144
	Pagny-sur-Meuse	Pagny-sur-Meuse	Pont de Pagny-sur-Meuse (N4 Paris - Strasbourg) Pagny-sur-Meuse Pont de D36
	Troussey	Troussey	Troussey Pont de D36C Marne–Rhine Canal Pont de Troussey (D36)
	Void-Vacon	Sorcy-Saint-Martin	Ruisseau de Frasne Le Vidus
	Sorcy-Saint-Martin		Pont de Sorcy-Saint-Martin (D10) Sorcy-Saint-Martin Pont de D144
	Sorcy-Saint-Martin	Euville	Railway bridge Paris-Est–Strasbourg-Ville line Issey Pont d'Euville (D144) Canal de l'Est
	Commercy	Commercy	Canal de l'Est Pont de D36 Ruisseau de la Noue
	Vignot	Vignot	Ruisseau d'Aulnois Pont de Vignot (D958 Commercy - Pont-à-Mousson) Vignot
	Commercy	Commercy	Pont de Rte de Boncourt (D8A) Canal de l'Est
	Lérouville	Commercy	Canal de l'Est
	Boncourt-sur-Meuse	Boncourt-sur-Meuse	Railway bridge Lérouville - Metz line Pont de Boncourt-sur-Meuse
	Pont-sur-Meuse	Pont-sur-Meuse	Pont-sur-Meuse Pont de Pont-sur-Meuse (D12) Ruisseau de Chonville
	Vadonville		/
	Mécrin	Mécrin	Pont de Mécrin (D12A) Mécrin
	Sampigny	Han-sur-Meuse	Rivière de Mont
	Han-sur-Meuse		Brasseitte Pont du Moulin Blussot (D183) Ally-sur-Meuse Han-sur-Meuse
		Saint-Mihiel	Pont de Han-sur-Meuse (D7A)
	Kœur-la-Petite	Bislée	Pont de D964 (Commercy - Verdun) Canal de l'Est
	Kœur-la-Grande		Pont de Bislée (D171) Bislée
	Chauvoncourt		Canal de l'Est
		Chauvoncourt	Menonville
	Saint-Mihiel	Saint-Mihiel	Canal de l'Est Saint-Mihiel Pont de Saint-Mihiel (D901 Saint-Mihiel - Rumont)
	Les Paroches	Maizey	Le Rehaut Canal de l'Est
	Maizey		Maizy
	Dompcevrin		Pont de Maizy (D101) Dompcevrin Le Hamboquin
	Bannoncourt	Rouvrois-sur-Meuse	/
		Bannoncourt	La Petite Meuse Pont de Bannoncourt (D109) Bannoncourt Railway bridge LGV Est high speed line (Paris - Strasbourg) Ruisseau de Rompierre
		Lacroix-sur-Meuse	La Prêle
	Woimbey		/
	Troyon	Troyon	Pont de Troyon Troyon
	Bouquemont		/
	Tilly-sur-Meuse		/
		Tilly-sur-Meuse	Pont de Tilly-sur-Meuse Tilly-sur-Meuse
		Ambly-sur-Meuse	Ruisseau de Récourt
	Villers-sur-Meuse	Villers-sur-Meuse	Villers-sur-Meuse Pont de Villers-sur-Meuse (D21)
	Les Monthairons	Les Monthairons	Pont de Rue du Lavoir Les Monthairons Le Petit Monthairon
	Dieue-sur-Meuse	Dieue-sur-Meuse	Le Clair Fossé Ruisseau de la Dieue La Petite Meuse Pont de Dieue-sur-Meuse (D159) Dieue-sur-Meuse Ruisseau de Billonneau Ruisseau de la Dieue
	Dugny-sur-Meuse	Haudainville	Pont de l'Autoroute A4 (Paris - Strasbourg) Ruisseau du Franc Ban
	Belleray	Belleray	Pont de Belleray (D301) Belleray Canal de l'Est
	Verdun	Verdun	Saint Vanne Pont de D330 Pont de Rued'Anthouard Verdun Saint Vanne Pont Fernand Legay Canal du Puty Pont Chaussée Pont de D603 (Verdun - Metz)
	Belleville-sur-Meuse	Thierville-sur-Meuse	Railway bridge St-Hilaire-au-Temple-Hagondange line (Verdun-Metz) Canal de l'Est La Scance Pont de D302B
	Charny-sur-Meuse	Bras-sur-Meuse	Charny-sur-Meuse Pont de Bras-sur-Meuse (D115)
	Vacherauville	Vacherauville	Vacherauville
	Marre	Champneuville	Ruisseau de la Claire
	Chattancourt		/
	Champneuville		Pont de Champneuville (D214)
	Cumières-le-Mort-Homme		/
	Regnéville-sur-Meuse	Samogneux	Regnéville-sur-Meuse Pont de Samogneux Samogneux
	Forges-sur-Meuse	Brabant-sur-Meuse	Ruisseau de Forges
Consenvoye	Consenvoye	Pont de Consenvoye Consenvoye
Dannevoux	Sivry-sur-Meuse	Canal de l'Est Ruisseau de Guénoville Le Butel Pont de Dannevoux Ruisseau de Brouzel
Vilosnes-Haraumont	Vilosnes-Haraumont	Canal de l'Est Canal de l'Est Vilosnes-Haraumont Pont de Vilosnes-Haraumont (D123B)
Brieulles-sur-Meuse	Brieulles-sur-Meuse	Ruisseau de Domfontaine Brieulles-sur-Meuse Le Wassieu
Cléry-le-Petit	Liny-devant-Dun	Le Doua La Tranchée
	Dun-sur-Meuse	Canal de l'Est
Doulcon		Dun-sur-Meuse Pont de Dun-sur-Meuse (D998) Doulcon L'Andon
Sassey-sur-Meuse	Milly-sur-Bradon	Ruisseau de Bradon Canal de l'Est
	Sassey-sur-Meuse	Sassey-sur-Meuse Pont de Sassey-sur-Meuse (D30) Ruisseau des Gaules
Mont-devant-Sassey		Ruisseau de Mont Ruisseau de Longvaux
Saulmory-Villefranche	Mouzay	Ruisseau de Froide Fontaine Le Grand Mohat Le Petit Mohat
Wiseppe		/
Stenay		Canal de l'Est
	Stenay	Pont de Stenay (D947 Stenay - Montmédy) Stenay Canal de l'Est La Wiseppe Ruisseau de Cervizy
Martincourt-sur-Meuse	Martincourt-sur-Meuse	Pont de Martincourt-sur-Meuse Martincourt-sur-Meuse
Luzy-Saint-Martin	Inor	Ruisseau de Cesse Pont de Luz Inor Canal de l'Est
Pouilly-sur-Meuse		Ruisseau du Fond de Noue
	Pouilly-sur-Meuse	Pont de Pouilly-sur-Meuse Pouilly-sur-Meuse
/ France Grand Est Region Ardennes Department / Meuse Department	Létanne	Pouilly-sur-Meuse	La Wame Létanne
France Grand Est Region Ardennes Department	Létanne	Mouzon	Le Bras de Vincy Canal de l'Est Canal de l'Est
	Mouzon		Mouzon Pont de D19
	Autrecourt-et-Pourron		Yoncq Autrecourt Ruisseau de Brouhan
	Villers-devant-Mouzon		Villers-devant-Mouzon Ruisseau de la Vignette Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines Coupure de Remilly
	Remilly-Aillicourt	Douzy	/
		Remilly-Aillicourt	Petit Remilly Pont de Remilly-Aillicourt (D4) Remilly
		Bazeilles	Chiers Aillicourt Pont de Bazeilles (D129) Coupure de Remilly
	Noyers-Pont-Maugis		Ruisseau de Thélonne Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Sedan - Thionville) Pont-Maugis
		Balan	Ruisseau de Batelotte
	Wadelincourt		Wadelincourt
		Sedan	Pont de Sedan (N43 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières)
	Sedan		Pont de l'Avenue Philippoteaux (D8043A) Canal de l'Est Pont du Boulevard Fabert Sedan Pont de Meuse Passerelle Saint-Vincent de Paul Canal de l'Est Pont-Neuf de Sedan
	Glaire	Floing	Ruz de Glaire Floing Glaire Tour à Glaire (Glaire) Ruisseau de Floing Igles (Glaire)
		Saint-Menges	Ruisseau du Bas Caillou Saint-Menges
		Donchery	Ruisseau de la Falizette Villette (Glaire) Pont de Glaire (A34 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières) Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)
	Sedan		Frénois (Sedan)
	Donchery		Pont de Donchery (D24) Donchery
	Villers-sur-Bar		Vrigne
		Vrigne-Meuse	Vrigne-Meuse Bar
	Dom-le-Mesnil		Canal des Ardennes
		Nouvion-sur-Meuse	Nouvion-sur-Meuse Pont de Nouvion-sur-Meuse (D33)
	Flize		Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines Flize Ruisseau de Boutancourt
	Chalandry-Elaire		Elaire (Chalandry-Elaire)
	Les Ayvelles	Lumes	Lumes
	Lumes		Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)
	Villers-Semeuse		Pont de Lumes (A34 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières) Ruisseau de la Truie Dérivation de Romery
		Saint-Laurent	Dérivation de Romery
		Charleville-Mézières	Le Theux (Charleville-Mézières)
	Charleville-Mézières		Vence Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Reims) Mohon (Charleville-Mézières) Canal de l'Est Pont de la Victoire (D8043A) Mézières (Charleville-Mézières) Pont de Pierre Saint-Julien (Charleville-Mézières)
	Prix-lès-Mézières		Pont de Manchester (N43 Charleville-Mézières - Sedan) Ruisseau du Marbay Manchester (Charleville-Mézières) Prix-lès-Mézières Ruisseau des Rejets Ruisseau de Praëlle
	Warcq		Warcq Pont de Warcq (D16) Sormonne
	Charleville-Mézières		Pont de N43 (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan) Passerelle Bayard Pont d'Arches (D8043A) Canal de l'Est Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Reims) Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Canal de l'Est Charleville-Mézières Pont de Mocy (D58) Montcy-Saint-Pierre (Charleville-Mézières) Passerelle du Mont Olympe
	Montcy-Notre-Dame		Ruisseau de la Fontaine du Prince Ruisseau de Soiru Montcy-Notre-Dame Pont de Montcy-Notre-Dame (D58A) Canal de l'Est
		Aiglemont	/
		Nouzonville	/
	Nouzonville		Nouzonville La Goutelle Ruisseau du Pré Allard Pont de Nouzonville (D13)
	Joigny-sur-Meuse	Joigny-sur-Meuse	Pont de Joigny-sur-Meuse (D1A) Joigny-sur-Meuse
	Bogny-sur-Meuse	Bogny-sur-Meuse	Braux Pont Jean-Rogissart (D1) Levrézy Bogny-sur-Meuse Pont Rue Jourde (D1C) Château Regnault
	Monthermé		Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)
		Monthermé	Semois Monthermé Pont de Monthermé (D989)
	Deville		Deville Ruisseau de Mairupt
	Laifour		Ruisseau de la Lambrèque
		Revin	Ruisseau de la Grande Commune Ruisseau de la Petite Commune Laifour Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Pont de Laifour (D1)
	Les Mazures		/
	Anchamps		Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Anchamps Pont d'Anchamps (D1B) Ru de la Pille Ruisseau des Meurtriers
	Revin		Orzy Pont d'Orzy Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Revin Pont de la Bouverie (D988 Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Sartnizon
	Rocroi		Pont de Saint-Nicolas Saint-Nicolas (Rocroi) Faux Ruisseau de Falières
	Revin		Pont de Fumay (D988 Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Ruisseau des Cochons
	Fumay		Ruisseau de Come
		Fumay	Ruisseau des Manises Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet) Ruisseau de la Folie
		Haybes	Fumay Pont de Fumay (D7) Ri d'Alyse
	Haybes		Pont de la Guerre (D7B) Haybes Ruisseau de Mohron
	Fépin		Ruisseau d'Hargnies Fépin
	Montigny-sur-Meuse	Vireux-Wallerand	Risdoux Fond de la Mènerie Montigny-sur-Meuse
	Vireux-Molhain		Vireux-Molhain Vireux-Wallerand Pont de Vireux (D989)
	Hierges		Viroin
	Aubrives	Aubrives	Aubrives
		Ham-sur-Meuse	Ham-sur-Meuse Pont de Ham (D46DB)
	Chooz		Chooz Nuclear Power Plant
		Chooz	Pont de Chemin de Mission Chooz Pont de Chooz
		Rancennes	Le Fond des Vaux Les Trois Fontaines (Chooz)
	Givet		/
		Givet	Ruisseau de Rancennes Givet Pont des Américains (D949) Houille
/ / / France / Belgium Grand Est Region / Wallonia Region Ardennes Department / Namur Province	Givet	Hastière	Ruisseau de Mon Idée Heer (Hastière)
Belgium Wallonia Region Namur Province	Hastière	Hastière	Heer-Agimont Pont de N909 Hermeton-sur-Meuse Hermeton Ruisseau de Féron Hastière-Lavaux Hastière-par-delà Pont de Hastière-Lavaux (N915) Fond des Vaux Ruisseau de Bonsoy Ruisseau de la Roule Waulsort Ruisseau du Chestia
		Dinant	Freÿr (Hastière) Moniat (Hastière)
	Dinant		Anseremme Noyon Pré Railway bridge line 166 Libramont - Bertrix - Dinant Lesse Viaduc Charlemagne (N97 Ciney - Philippeville) Neffe Saint-Paul Dinant Pont Charles de Gaulle (N936) Leffe Ruisseau de Leffe Bouvignes-sur-Meuse
		Yvoir	/
	Anhée		Houx (Yvoir) Railway bridge line 154 Dinant - Namur Anhée Molignée Pont d'Anhée (N92 Namur - Dinant) Yvoir BocqBocq Hun (Anhée) Rouillon (Anhée) Pont de Rouillon (N947a)
	Profondeville		Godinne (Yvoir) Rivière (Profondeville)
		Profondeville	Burnot Burnot Pont de Lustin (N947) Profondeville Tailfer Ruisseau de Tailfer
	Namur		Boreuville (Namur)
		Namur	Pont de Wépion Grand Ry Dave Ruisseau de Dave Wépion Marlagne La Plante Pont de Jambes Jambes Passerelle l'Enjambée Sambre Namur Pont des Ardennes (N90 Namur - Liège) Houyoux Railway bridge 'Pont de Luxembourg' line 154 Dinant - Namur Bouge Pont des Grands Malades (N905) Viaduc du Beez (E411 Namur - Arlon) Beez Lives-sur-Meuse Brumagne Gelbresse Marche-les-Dames
	Andenne	Andenne	Samson Samson Pont de Namêche (N942) Namêche Sclayn Pont de N968 Ruisseau de la Loysse Seilles Andenne Pont d'Andenne (N921) Andenelle
Belgium Wallonia Region Liège Province	Wanze	Huy	Gisves (Huy) Java (Wanze) Ben (Huy) Bas-Oha (Wanze) Solière Pont Père Pire (N643) Wanze Mehaigne
	Huy		Anhin Railway bridge Pont Roi Baudouin (N64 Tienen - Huy) Huy Hoyoux Pont de l'Europe
	Amay		Tihange Nuclear Power Station Tihange (Huy) Pont d'Ampsin (N684) Ampsin (Amay) Neuville-sous-Huy (Huy)
		Amay	Pont d'Ombret (N696) Amay Ombret-Rawsa
		Engis	Ruisseau d'Oxhe Flône (Amay)
	Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse		Pont de Hermalle Hermalle-sous-Huy (Engis) Mallieue (Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse)
	Engis		Engis Pont d'Engis (N639)
	Flémalle	Flémalle	Ramioul Ramet Chokier Ivoz Pont barrage d'Ivoz-Ramet (N677) Flémalle
		Seraing	Ruisseau de Ville en Cour Railway bridge line 125A (Liers - Liège - Flémalle-Haute) Val
	Seraing		Troque Jemeppe-sur-Meuse Seraing Pont de Seraing (A604 highway Liège Airport - Seraing)
	Saint-Nicolas		Tilleur (Saint-Nicolas)
	Liège		Ougrée (Seraing) Sclessin (Liège) Pont d'Ougrée (N63 Liège - Marche-en-Famenne) Railway bridge cargo line
		Liège	Kinkempois Pont de Liège (E25 highway Liège - Luxembourg City ) Railway bridge high speed line 3 (Liège - Aachen ) Angleur Canal de l'Ourthe Pont de Fragnée Ourthe Passerelle la Belle Liègeoise Pont du Roi Albert 1er (N30) Pont Kennedy Passerelle Saucy Liège Pont des Arches (N3 Liège – Germany ) Pont Maghin Pont Atlas Bressoux Jupille-sur-Meuse Albert Canal Pont - Barrage de Monsin Monsin Island Canal de Monsin
	Herstal		Herstal Wandre (Liège) Pont de Wandre (N667) Pont d'Autorute E40 (Liège - Aachen )
	Oupeye	Visé	Cheratte (Visé) Argenteau (Visé) Julienne Hermalle-sous-Argenteau (Oupeye) Pont de Hermalle-sous-Argenteau Richelle (Visé) Pont Trilogiport
	Visé		Visé Pont de Visé (N618) Canal de Haccourt - Visé Railway bridge 'Pont des Allemands' Pont et barrage de Lixhe (N602)
/ / Belgium Wallonia Region / Flanders Region Liège Province / Limburg Province	Visé	Voeren	Lixhe (Visé) Berwinne Nivelle (Visé)
/ / Belgium / Netherlands Wallonia Region / Limburg Province Liège Province	Visé	Eijsden-Margraten	Voer Eijsden (Eijsden-Margraten) Lanaye (Visé) Bike ferry service Lanaye - Eijsden Canal de Lanaye Petit Lanaye (Visé)
Netherlands Limburg Province	Maastricht	Maastricht	Maastricht John F. Kennedybrug N278 (Maastricht - Aachen ) JekerJeker Pedestrial bridge 'Hoge Brug' Pedestrial bridge 'Sint-Servaasbrug' Wilhelminabrug Railway bridge Maastricht Noorderbrug Zuid-Willemsvaart Juliana Canal Borgharen
/ / Belgium / Netherlands Flanders Region / Limburg Province Limburg	Lanaken	Maastricht	Smeermaas (Lanaken) Itteren (Maastricht) Neerharen (Lanaken)
	Maasmechelen	Meerssen	Geul Uikhoven (Maasmechelen) Bike ferry service Uikhoven - Geulle aan de Maas Geulle aan de Maas (Meerssen) Oude Broekgraaf
		Stein	Kotem Elsloo Scharbergbrug (E314 / A76 Genk - Heerlen - Aachen ) Stein Meers Maasmechelen Kirkbeek Maasband Leut (Maasmechelen) Ur Urmond (Stein) Berg aan de Maas (Stein) Car ferry service Meeswijk - Berg aan de Maas
	Dilsen-Stokkem	Sittard-Geleen	Obbicht (Sittard-Geleen) Boyen (Dilsen-Stokkem) Vrietselbeek Bike ferry service Rotem - Grevenbicht Grevenbicht (Sittard-Geleen) Kogbeek Kingbeek
		Echt-Susteren	Illikhoven (Sittard-Geleen) Visserweert (Sittard-Geleen)
	Maaseik		Heppeneert (Maaseik) Kokkelert (Sittard-Geleen) Zanderbeek Maaseik Pater Sangersbrug (N761 / N296 Maaseik - Susteren )
		Maasgouw	Ohé en Laak (Maasgouw) Bosbeek Aldeneik (Maaseik)
	Kinrooi		Ophoven (Kinrooi) Bike ferry service Ophoven - Ohé en Laak Albeek Stevensweert (Maasgouw)
Netherlands Limburg Province	Maasgouw	Maasgouw	Maasbracht Wessem Bike ferry service Thorn - Wessem Bike ferry service Maasbracht - Wessem Maasbrug bij Wessem (A2 Eindhoven - Maastricht) Juliana Canal Wessem-Nederweert Canal Linne-Buggenum Canal
	Roermond		Vlootbeek Linne (Maasgouw)
		Roermond	Merum Bike ferry service Ool - Oolderhuuske Ool Herten Roermond Rur Louis Raemaekersbrug (N280 Roermond - Weert) Maasnielderbeek Railway bridge Buggenum (Iron Rhine Weert - Roermond)
	Leudal		Linne-Buggenum Canal Buggenum (Leudal) Neerbeek Swalm
		Beesel	Bike ferry service Neer - Rijkel Rijkel (Beesel) Neer (Leudal)
	Peel en Maas		Beesel Kessel-Eik (Peel en Maas) Huilbeek Kessel (Peel en Maas) Car ferry service Kessel - Beesel Tasbeek Reuver (Beesel) Scheikensbeek
		Venlo	Oijen (Peel en Maas) Belfeld (Venlo) Aalsbeek Steyl (Venlo) Car ferry service Baarlo - Steyl
	Venlo		Engerbeek Tegelen Springbeek Zuiderbrug (A73 Nijmegen - Venlo) Wijlderbeek Blerick Stadsbrug Venlo (N556) Railway bridge Venlo (Venlo–Eindhoven and Nijmegen–Venlo lines) Venlo Rijnbeek Stepkensbeek Noorderbrug (A67 Venlo - Duisburg )
	Horst aan de Maas		Stopbeek Baarsdonk Everlose Beek Vorstermolenbeek Grubbenvorst (Horst aan de Maas) Velden (Venlo) Car ferry service Grubbenvorst - Velden Latbeek Hasselt (Venlo) Salderbeek Houthuizen (Horst aan de Maas) Molenbeek van Lotum Lomm (Venlo) Wielder (Horst aan de Maas) Tassbeek Lottum (Horst aan de Maas) Car ferry service Lottum - Lomm Pedestrian ferry service Lottum - Arcen Arcen (Venlo) Aarsbeek Broekhuizen (Horst aan de Maas) Car ferry service Broekhuizen - Arcen Molenbeek Broekhuizenvorst (Horst aan de Maas) Rode Beek
		Bergen	Geldernsch-Nierkanaal
	Venray		Wellerlooi (Bergen) Blitterswijck (Venray) Bike ferry service Blitterswijck - Wellerlooi Sohr Koninginnebrug N270 (Venray - Eindhoven) Well (Bergen) Wanssum (Venray) Grote Molenbeek Oostrumsche Beek Geijsteren (Venray)
/ Netherlands Limburg Province / North Brabant province	Land van Cuijk	Bergen	Maashees Ayensebeek Aijen (Bergen) Vierlingsbeek (Land van Cuijk) Car ferry service Vierlingsbeek - Bergen Bergen Molenbeek Heukelomsebeek Heukelom (Bergen) Eckeltse Beek Rekgraaf Afferden (Bergen) Car ferry service Sambeek - Afferden Sint-Jansbeek Sambeek (Land van Cuijk)
		Gennep	Boxmeer (Land van Cuijk) Maasbrug van Boxmeer (A77 Boxmeer - Cologne ) Heijen (Gennep) Gennep Maasbrug van Gennep (N264 Gennep - Veghel) Niers Oeffeltsche Raam Milsbeek (Gennep) Tielebeek
		Mook en Middelaar	Sint-Agatha (Land van Cuijk) Middelaar (Mook en Middelaar) Virdsche Graaf Cuijk (Land van Cuijk) Car ferry service Cuijk - Middelaar Mooks Kanaal Mook (Mook en Middelaar) Katwijk (Land van Cuijk) Railway bridge Mook (Nijmegen–Venlo line) Molenhoek (Mook en Middelaar)
/ Netherlands Gelderland / North Brabant province		Heumen	Maas–Waal Canal Heumen Maasbrug van Heumen (A73 Nijmegen - Venlo) Overasselt (Heumen) Tochtsloot Grave (Land van Cuijk) John S. Thompsonbrug (N324 Grave - Nijmegen) Nederasselt (Heumen) Raam
		Wijchen	Balgoij (Wijchen)
	Oss		Keent (Oss) Neerloon (Oss) Niftrik (Wijchen) Maasbrug van Ravenstein (A50 Nijmegen - Eindhoven) Ravenstein (Oss) Bike ferry service Ravenstein - Niftrik Railway bridge 'Edithbrug' (Tilburg-Nijmegen line) Neerlangel (Oss) Demen (Oss) Batenburg (Wijchen) Bike ferry service Demen - Batenburg Dieden (Oss)
		West Maas en Waal	Nieuwe Wetering Appeltern (West Maas en Waal) De Vliet Car ferry service Appeltern - Megen Megen (Oss) Car ferry service Maasbommel - Megen-West Maasbommel (West Maas en Waal) Burgemeester Delenkanaal Boveneind (Oss) Berghuizen (West Maas en Waal) Oijen (Oss) Car ferry service Oijen - Nieuwe Schans Greffeling (West Maas en Waal) Alphen (West Maas en Waal) Lithoijen (Oss) Lith (Oss) Moordhuizen (West Maas en Waal) Car ferry service Lith - Moordhuizen
		Maasdriel	Voorne (Maasdriel) Heerewaarden (Maasdriel) Bike ferry service Heerewaarden - Lithse Ham Maren-Kessel (Oss) Sint Andries canal Car ferry service Alem - Maren-Kessel 't Wild (Oss) Kerkdriel (Maasdriel) Hertogswetering Hoefgraaf
	's-Hertogenbosch		Gewande ('s-Hertogenbosch) Hoenzadriel (Maasdriel) Máxima Canal Empel ('s-Hertogenbosch) Maasbrug van Empel (A2 's-Hertogenbosch - Utrecht) 's-Hertogenbosch Railway bridge 'Hedelse spoorbrug' (Utrecht–Boxtel line) Prinses Irenebrigadebrug Hedel (Maasdriel) Oude Dieze Dieze Bokhoven ('s-Hertogenbosch) Ammerzoden (Maasdriel)
	Heusden		Well (Maasdriel) Zooislagen Buitendijkse Loop
		Zaltbommel	Car ferry service Bern - Herpt Bern (Zaltbommel) Heusden Heusden Canal
Netherlands North Brabant province	Heusden	Altena	Maasbrug van Heusden (N267 Heusden - Giessen) Heesbeen (Heusden) Genderen (Altena) Doeveren (Heusden)
	Waalwijk		Afwateringskanaal 's-Hertogenbosch - Drongelen Drongelen (Altena) Waalwijk Car ferry service Drongelen - Waalwijk Car ferry service Dussen - Capelle Dussen (Altena)
	Geertruidenberg		Peerenboom (Altena) Keizersveerbrug (A27 Breda - Utrecht) Raamsdonksveer (Geertruidenberg) Geertruidenberg Nieuwe Merwede Mouth into the North Sea

Mention in patriotic songs

The Meuse (Maas) is mentioned in the first stanza of Germany's old national anthem, the Deutschlandlied. However, since its re-adoption as national anthem in 1952, only the third stanza of the Deutschlandlied has been sung as the German national anthem, the first and second stanzas being omitted. This was confirmed after German reunification in 1991 when only the third stanza was defined as the official anthem. The lyrics written in 1841 describe a then–disunited Germany with the river as its western boundary, where King William I of the Netherlands had joined the German Confederation with his Duchy of Limburg in 1839. Though the duchy's territory officially became an integral part of the Netherlands by the 1867 Treaty of London, the text passage remained unchanged when the Deutschlandlied was declared the national anthem of the Weimar Republic in 1922.

The name of the rivers also forms part of the title of "Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse", written after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and a popular patriotic song for the rest of the 19th century and into the 20th.

See also

• 1930 Meuse Valley fog
• Moulin de Rouvres
• Rida (River)

External links

• Peace Palace Library's Bibliography on Water Resources and International Law regarding Meuse River