Dijle (Dutch, in English and
French: Dyle) is a
river in central
Belgium, left tributary of the
Rupel. It is 86
km (53
miles) long. It flows through the Belgian provinces
Walloon Brabant,
Flemish Brabant and
Antwerp. Its source is in Houtain-le-Val, near
Nivelles. The most important towns along the Dijle are (starting from the source)
Ottignies,
Wavre,
Leuven (English: Louvain) and
Mechelen. The latter is often called the 'Dijlestad' (Dijle City). Main tributaries of the Dijle are the rivers
Demer (in Werchter,
Rotselaar municipality), and the
Zenne at the Zennegat, furthest outskirt of Mechelen, where also the canal Leuven-Mechelen connects. A few hundred metres downstream, the confluence of the Dijle and the
Nete at
Rumst forms the river
Rupel which 12
km further comes into the
Schelde at which the Antwerp
seaport is located. The Dijle used to be navigable for small
ships from Werchter on, although nowadays commercial and pleasure navigation is limited to Mechelen, the upper locks at Mechelen being closed for navigation.
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