IJssel

The IJssel is a river in the central and eastern Netherlands. It is a distributary of the Rhine, carrying part of the Rhine’s flow northward. At Arnhem, the Rhine’s main current is divided; the Nederrijn continues north and becomes the IJssel. The river runs for roughly 125 to 150 kilometers through the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, passing the towns of Zutphen, Deventer, Zwolle and Kampen before draining into the IJsselmeer, the freshwater lake formed by the closure of the Zuiderzee.

The IJssel drains a large, fertile valley and supports mixed agriculture and urban settlements. The river is navigable for commercial traffic over long stretches and serves regional ports; downstream sections include locks and weirs to regulate water levels and protect low-lying land. The river is managed as part of the Dutch Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta works, with flood defenses, dams and sluice facilities.

The IJssel has several tributaries, including the Oude IJssel, and its watershed collects water from a broad area in Germany and the Netherlands. The valley is known for its wetlands and cultural heritage, with medieval towns and riverside landscapes. In Dutch and English sources the river is sometimes spelled Yssel or IJsel; the name reflects its historical status in the Rhine delta.