Meuse

The Meuse, known as the Maas in Dutch, is a major European river that flows through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea. It runs for about 925 kilometers and drains a catchment area of roughly 33,000 square kilometers. The river has multiple names in different languages and a long history as a transportation and drainage corridor in the region.

The Meuse rises in the Langres plateau in northeastern France, near the Haute-Marne department, and travels generally northwest. It forms part of the border between France and Belgium for a stretch before continuing through Belgium, where it passes through Notre-Dame-style towns such as Namur and Liège. In the Netherlands, the river is known as the Maas and flows through Limburg, passing towns including Maastricht, Roermond, and Venlo before entering the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and reaching the North Sea.

Its course is marked by a number of tributaries, including the Ourthe and the Sambre in Belgium and the Chiers in France. The lower Meuse is heavily regulated as part of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta system, with locks and sluices to manage navigation and flood risk. The river supports commercial navigation on defined segments and provides regional water supply, agriculture, and energy generation in parts of its basin.

Historically, the Meuse valley has been a strategic corridor, witnessing significant military action and cultural exchange, notably during World War I around Verdun and in other periods of European history. The river remains an important transboundary watercourse, with coordination among France, Belgium, and the Netherlands for navigation, flood control, and ecosystem management.