# Van Harinxmakanaal

The van Harinxmakanaal is a major canal in western Frisland. It runs from the sea at Harlingen eastwards to Leeuwarden. Major places along the canal include Franeker, Dronrijp and Deinum. The canal is 37.5 kilometers long. It was named after Pieter Albert Vincent van Harinxma thoe Slooten in 1950 who was King's Commissioner to Friesland from 1909 to 1945. Prior to this date it was called Harlinger Trekvaart. However this was widened and deepened, and a few corners cut off in 1951. At Suawoude it joins the Prinses Margrietkanaal.
The lock Tsjerk Hiddessluizen situated at the connection to the Harlingen harbour maintains the water level in the canal. The canal water level is connected to the water system called Friese boezem, consisting of lakes, waterways and canals in Friesland.

## Biology

The van Harinxmakanaal has allowed the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) to move freely to new habitats in lakes and rivers in Friesland since 2002. However the banks of the canal are unsuitable for otters as there is no vegetation.

## Capacity

The canal has been engineered to allow CEMT class IV vessels to transverse. These can have a draft of 3 m, a maximum length of 105 m, width 9.5 m and be up to 2000 tonnes. The height limit under bridges is 5.45 m.
Table of traffic traversing Tsjerk Hidessluizen :
| year | traffic | reference |
| 2009 | 3328 | |
| 2011 | 3956 | |

## Crossing points

van Harinxmakanaal is crossed by a number of bridges or aqueducts. The following are derived from Google Maps.
| No. | Name | Kind | Crossing |
| B1 | Tsjerk Hiddessluizen | Road bridge (2 Bascule bridges) | N 390 Harlingen - Almenum (Oude Ringmuur) |
| B2 | Koningsbrug | road bridge (Bascule bridge) | Midlum - Harlingen |
| A1 | Akwadukt Van Harinxmakanaal | aqueduct | N 31 Zurich - Drachten (Waadseewei) |
| B3 | Brug Kiesterzijl | road bridge (swing bridge) | Kiesterzijl - Kie |
| B4 | Frisiabrêge | road bridge (bascule bridge) | N 384 Tzummarum - Deersum (Burg. J. Dijkstraweg) |
| B5 | Stationsbrug | road bridge (double-beam drawbridge) | Franeker - Tzum (Stationsweg) |
| B6 | Brug Dronrijp | road bridge (bascule bridge) | Dronrijp - Winsum (It Heech) |
| B7 | Brug Ritsumazijl | road bridge (bascule bridge) | Ritsumazijl - Deinum (Hegedijk) |
| A2 | Richard Hageman Aquaduct | aqueduct | N 31 Zurich - Drachten |
| A3 | Margaretha Zelle Akwadukt | aqueduct | Leeuwarden - Deinum (Johannes Brandsmaweg) |
| B8 | Spoorbrug HRM | rail bridge (swing bridge) | Leeuwarden - Harlingen (Harlingen–Nieuweschans railway) Leeuwarden - Stavoren (Leeuwarden–Stavoren railway) |
| B9 | Spoorbrug HRMK | rail bridge (swing bridge) | Leeuwarden - Arnhem (Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway) |
| B10 | Van Harinxmabrug | road bridge (2 bascule bridges) | Leeuwarden - Goutum (Overijsselselaan) |
| A4 | M.C. Escher Akwadukt | aqueduct | Leeuwarden - Drachten (Drachtsterweg) |

## Tributaries

A number of smaller canals and water courses connect with the varinxmakanaal. These are shallower and have lower bridge clearances but may be suitable for recreational vessels.
Canals and tributaries :
| Name | km | From | Direction | To |
| Noordergracht [nl] | 36.9 | Tsjerk Hiddesluizen | southeast | |
| Ried | 36.4 | | North and South | |
| Verbindingkanal | | Koningsbrug | Southwest | Franekertrekvaart, central Harlingen |
| Harlingertrekvaart | 35.35 | | East | Moorings |
| Marconihaven | 34.8 | Harlingen east | north | Harbour |
| Achlumer Feart | 34.6 | Harlingen east | South | Achlum |
| Arumer Feart / Arumervaart | 29.7 | Franeker | Southwest | Arum, Achlum |
| Franeker Watersport Vereniging | 29.2 | | North | |
| Tsjomer Feart | | Franeker | East-southeast | Tzum |
| Krommer Gracht | 28.6 | Franeker | West | NW Franeker |
| Noorder Gracht | 28.3 | Franeker | North | Doanjumer Feart |
| Alde Trekfeart | 27.3 | Franeker | West | Noorder Gracht |
| Frjentsjerter Feart / Franekervaart | 25.5 | Franeker | Southeast | Winsum, Easterlittens |
| Hatsumer Opfeart | | | Southeast | Hatsum |
| Harnzer Trekfeart [fy] (cutoff) | 22.4 | Dronrijp | Northeast | |
| | | Dronrijp | West | Trailerhelling Dronryp |
| Longebuorster Feart [fy] / Lange Buurstervaart | | Southeast | non-navigable |
| Puolfeart | | De Poelen | North | non-navigable |
| Molesleat | | | Southwest | |
| Boalserter Feart [fy] / Bolswarder Vaart | 17.3 | | South | Bolsward |
| Blessumer Feart [fy] | 15.8 | | Southeast | Blessum |
| Menamer Feart [fy] | | Deinum | Northwest | Menaldum |
| De Swette [nl] | 11.8 | Leeuwarden | South | Sneek |
| | | Middelsee Goutum | South | |
| | | Himpenserdijkbrug | South | Goutum, de Klamp, Wiarda |
| ?Drachtsterweg | | M.C. Escher Aquaduct | North | |
| Nauwe Greuns | | | South | Teerns, Hempens, Zuiderburen |
| Wide Groens | | | North | |
| Woudmansdiep | | | North | |
| Wergeasterfeart | | Hmpenser Wielen | South | Wergea |
| Alde Lune | 2.8 | | North | Louwsmeer |
| Nijdijp | 1.2 | Lange Meer | North | Tytsjerk |
A pumping station was built next to the Richard Hageman Aquaduct in 2014. This pumps water from the adjacent polders after it comes through a wetland to remove sludge.

## Incidents

The opening of Spoorbrug HRMK broke down on 7 September 2021, closing the canal to shipping at this point. A cylinder was replaced restoring function on 4 October 2021.