Het Zwarte Water
Het Zwarte Water

**This ancient canal is a pretty sight in this historical neighbourhood. **

Het Zwarte Water (‘The Black Water’) is an ancient canal that is connected to the river the Vecht. The bridge that goes over the canal, the Lauwerechtbrug, is a national monument and its name is derived from the darkness of the water.

The main function of the Zwarte Water was the exploitation of peat-rich peat soil: dried peat that could be used as fuel. But this water was also used for other freight until 1940. The transport of stones and other building materials for the construction of Tuinwijk (a neighbourhood in Utrecht), for example, was largely over the Zwarte Water.

When the houses were finished, the items of residents were also transported via this waterway, after which they were brought to the houses by small rail vehicles.

In the water there is a lock, and at this point, there are three canals that come together. The canal is pretty short, only 0,16 kilometres long, but this and its surroundings make it a picturesque sight.