Meuse

From 1301, the upper Meuse roughly marked the western border of the Holy Roman Empire with the Kingdom of France, after Count Henry III of Bar had to receive the western part of the County of Bar (Barrois mouvant) as a French fief from the hands of King Philip IV. In 1408, a Burgundian army led by John the Fearless went to the aid of John III against the citizens of Liège, who were in open revolt. After the battle, which saw the men from Liège defeated, John ordered the drowning in the Meuse of burghers and noblemen in Liège whose loyalties he suspected.^[6]

The border remained relatively stable until the annexation of the Three Bishoprics Metz, Toul and Verdun by King Henry II in 1552 and the occupation of the Duchy of Lorraine by the forces of King Louis XIII in 1633. Its lower Belgian (Walloon) portion, part of the sillon industriel, was the first fully industrialized area in continental Europe.^[7]

 

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The Afgedamde Maas was created in the late Middle Ages, when a major flood made a connection between the Maas and the Merwede at the town of Woudrichem. From that moment on, the current Afgedamde Maas was the main branch of the lower Meuse. The former main branch eventually silted up and is today called the Oude Maasje. In the late 19th century and early 20th century the connection between the Maas and Rhine was closed off and the Maas was given a new, artificial mouth – the Bergse Maas. The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Maas reduced the risk of flooding and was considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works.^[8][9] The former main branch was, after the dam at its southern inlet was completed in 1904, renamed Afgedamde Maas and no longer receives water from the Maas.

The Meuse and its crossings were a key objective of the Battle of France, the Battle of Sedan and also for the last major German WWII counter-offensive on the Western Front, the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945.

The Meuse is represented in the documentary The River People released in 2012 by Xavier Istasse.^[10]

In July 2021, the Meuse basin was one of the many regions in Europe to experience catastrophic flooding during the 2021 European floods.^[11]

The name Meuse is derived from the French name of the river, derived from its Latin name, Mosa, which ultimately derives from the Celtic or Proto-Celtic name *Mosā. This probably derives from the same root as English "maze", referring to the river's twists and turns.^[12]

The Dutch name Maas descends from Middle Dutch Mase, which comes from the presumed but unattested Old Dutch form *Masa, from Proto-Germanic *Masō. Modern Dutch and German Maas and Limburgish Maos preserve this Germanic form. Despite the similarity, the Germanic name is not derived from the Celtic name, judging from the change from earlier o into a, which is characteristic of the Germanic languages.^{[clarification needed]}

 

The Meuse rises in Pouilly-en-Bassigny, commune of Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse on the Langres plateau in France from where it flows northwards past Sedan (the head of navigation) and Charleville-Mézières into Belgium.^[13]

At Namur it is joined by the Sambre. Beyond Namur the Meuse winds eastwards and passes Liège before turning north. The river then forms part of the Belgian-Dutch border, except that at Maastricht the border lies further to the west. In the Netherlands it continues northwards through Venlo closely along the border to Germany, then turns towards the west, where it runs parallel to the Waal and forms part of the extensive Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, together with the Scheldt to its south and the Rhine to the north. The river has been divided near Heusden into the Afgedamde Maas on the right and the Bergse Maas on the left. The Bergse Maas continues under the name of Amer, which is part of De Biesbosch. The Afgedamde Maas joins the Waal, the main stem of the Rhine at Woudrichem, and then flows under the name of Boven Merwede to Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where it splits into Nieuwe Merwede and Beneden Merwede. Near Lage Zwaluwe, the Nieuwe Merwede joins the Amer, forming the Hollands Diep, which splits into Grevelingen and Haringvliet, before finally flowing into the North Sea.

The Meuse is crossed by railway bridges between the following stations (on the left and right banks respectively):

• Belgium:
  • Hasselt (Belgium) – Maastricht (Netherlands)
• Netherlands:
  • Weert - Roermond
  • Blerick – Venlo
  • Cuijk – Mook-Molenhoek
  • Ravenstein – Wijchen
  • 's-Hertogenbosch – Zaltbommel

There are also numerous road bridges and around 32 ferry crossings.

The Meuse is navigable over a substantial part of its total length: In the Netherlands and Belgium, the river is part of the major inland navigation infrastructure, connecting the Rotterdam-Amsterdam-Antwerp port areas to the industrial areas upstream: 's-Hertogenbosch, Venlo, Maastricht, Liège, Namur. Between Maastricht and Maasbracht, an unnavigable section of the Meuse is bypassed by the 36 km (22.4 mi) Juliana Canal. South of Namur, further upstream, the river can only carry more modest vessels, although a barge as long as 100 m (328 ft). can still reach the French border town of Givet.

From Givet, the river is canalized over a distance of 272 kilometres (169 mi). The canalized Meuse used to be called the "Canal de l'Est — Branche Nord" but was recently rebaptized into "Canal de la Meuse". The waterway can be used by the smallest barges that are still in use commercially almost 40 m (131 ft) long and just over 5 metres (16 ft) wide. Just upstream of the town of Commercy, the Canal de la Meuse connects with the Marne–Rhine Canal by means of a short diversion canal.^[14]

The Cretaceous sea reptile Mosasaur is named after the river Meuse. The first fossils of it were discovered outside Maastricht in 1780.

 

A view of the Meuse in the French Ardennes at Laifour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An international agreement was signed in 2002 in Ghent, Belgium, about the management of the river amongst France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Also participating in the agreement were the Belgian regional governments of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels (which is not in the basin of the Meuse but pumps running water into the Meuse).

Most of the basin area (approximately 36,000 km²) is in Wallonia (12,000 km²), followed by France (9,000 km²), the Netherlands (8,000 km²), Germany (2,000 km²), Flanders (2,000 km²) and Luxembourg (a few km²).

An International Commission on the Meuse has the responsibility of the implementation of the treaty.

The costs of this Commission are met by all these countries, in proportion of their own territory in the basin of the Meuse: Netherlands 30%, Wallonia 30%, France 15%, Germany 14.5%, Flanders 5%, Brussels 4.5%, Kingdom of Belgium 0.5%, and Luxembourg 0.5%.

The map of the basin area of Meuse was joined to the text of the treaty.^[15]

As for culture, as a major communication route the River Meuse is the origin of Mosan art, principally (Wallonia and France).

The first landscape painted in the Renaissance was the landscape of Meuse by Joachim Patinir.^[16] He was likely the uncle of Henri Blès, who is sometimes defined as a Mosan landscape painter active during the second third of the 16th century (i.e. second generation of landscape painters).^[17]

The main tributaries of the Meuse are listed below in downstream-upstream order, with the town where the tributary meets the river:

• Dieze (near 's-Hertogenbosch)
  • Aa (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
  • Binnendieze (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
  • Dommel (in 's-Hertogenbosch)
    • Gender (in Eindhoven)
• Raam (in Grave)
• Niers (in Gennep)
• Swalm (in Swalmen)
• Rur/Roer (in Roermond)
  • Wurm (in Heinsberg, Germany)
  • Merzbach (in Linnich, Germany)
  • Inde (in Jülich, Germany)
• Kingbeek (near Illikhoven)
• Geleenbeek (near Maasbracht)
• Geul (near Meerssen)
• Geer/Jeker (in Maastricht)
  • Yerne (in Lens-sur-Geer)
• Voer/Fouron (in Eijsden)
• Berwinne/Berwijn (near Moelingen, part of Voeren)
• Ourthe (in Liège)
  • Weser/Vesdre (near Liège)
  • Amel/Amblève (in Comblain-au-Pont)
    • Salm (in Trois-Ponts)
    • Warche (near Malmedy)
• Hoyoux (in Huy)
• Mehaigne (in Wanze)
• Sambre (in Namur)
• Houyoux (in Namur)
• Bocq (in Yvoir)
• Molignée (in Anhée)
• Lesse (in Anseremme, part of Dinant)
• Viroin (in Vireux-Molhain)
• Faux (in Revin)
• Semois or Semoy (in Monthermé)
• Sormonne (in Warcq)
• Bar (near Dom-le-Mesnil)
• Chiers (in Bazeilles)
  • Othain (in Montmédy)
• Vair (in Maxey-sur-Meuse)
• Mouzon (in Neufchâteau, Vosges)
• Saônelle (in Coussey)

 

The mean annual discharge rate of the Meuse has been relatively stable over the last few thousand years. One recent study estimates that average flow has increased by about 10% since 2000 BC.^[18] The hydrological distribution of the Meuse changed during the later Middle Ages, when a major flood forced it to shift its main course northwards towards the river Merwede. From then on several stretches of the original Merwede were renamed "Maas" (i.e. Meuse) and served as the primary outflow of that river. Those branches are currently known as the Nieuwe Maas and Oude Maas.

However during another series of severe floods the Meuse found an additional path towards the sea, resulting in the creation of the Biesbosch wetlands and Hollands Diep estuaries. Thereafter the Meuse split near Heusden into two main distributaries, one flowing north to join the Merwede and one flowing direct to the sea. The branch of the Meuse leading direct to the sea eventually silted up (and now forms the Oude Maasje stream), but in 1904 the canalised Bergse Maas was dug to take over the functions of the silted-up branch. At the same time the branch leading to the Merwede was dammed at Heusden (and has since been known as the Afgedamde Maas) so that little water from the Meuse entered the old Maas courses or the Rhine distributaries. The resulting separation of the rivers Rhine and Meuse is considered to be the greatest achievement in Dutch hydraulic engineering before the completion of the Zuiderzee Works and Delta Works.^[8][19] In 1970 the Haringvlietdam has been finished. Since then the reunited Rhine and Meuse waters have reached the North Sea either at this site or, during times of lower discharges of the Rhine, at Hook of Holland.^[20]

A 2008 study^[21] notes that the difference between summer and winter flow volumes has increased significantly in the last 100–200 years. It points out that the frequency of serious floods (i.e. flows > 1000% of normal) has increased markedly. They predict that winter flooding of the Meuse may become a recurring problem in the coming decades.

The Meuse flows through the following departments of France, provinces of Belgium, provinces of the Netherlands and towns:

•   Haute-Marne
•   Vosges: Neufchâteau
•   Meuse: Commercy, Saint-Mihiel, Verdun, Stenay
•   Ardennes: Sedan, Charleville-Mézières, Givet
•   Namur: Dinant, Namur
•   Liège: Huy, Liège, Visé
•   Limburg: Eijsden, Maastricht, Stein, Maasbracht, Roermond, Venlo, Gennep
•   Limburg: Stokkem, Maaseik (between Stein and Maasbracht)
•   North Brabant: Boxmeer, Cuijk, Grave, Ravenstein, Lith, Heusden, Aalburg, Woudrichem
•   Gelderland: Maasdriel
•   South Holland: Dordrecht, Maassluis, Rotterdam

Main cities and tributaries will be in bold.

Region	Municipality on the left bank	Municipality on the right bank	Route
France Grand Est Region Haute-Marne Department	Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse	Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse	Source near Pouilly-en-Bassigny   Le Châtelet-sur-Meuse   Premier pont de la Meuse
	Dammartin-sur-Meuse	Dammartin-sur-Meuse	Malroy   Pont de Malroy   Pont du Pâtis des Vannees   Ruisseau de Pré Chatenay
	Val-de-Meuse	Val-de-Meuse	Meuse   Pont de Meuse (D429 Val-de-Meuse - Dombrot-le-Sec)   Ruisseau d'Avrecourt   Railway bridge Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line   Ru d'Ouette   Ru des Fossés   Ruisseau de Bocheret   Provenchères-sur-Meuse   Pont de Val-de-Meuse (D189)   Ruisseau des Aimeguenons   Pont de l'A31 (A31 Nancy - Dijon)   Ruisseau de Joncourt   Pont de D132   Ruisseau de l'Étange   Ruisseau du Grand Étange
	Lavilleneuve	Val-de-Meuse	Ruisseau de Rangecourt   Pont de Lavilleneuve (D132)   Le Viau
	Val-de-Meuse		Lénizeul   Pont de D228
	Bassoncourt	Bassoncourt	Ruisseau du Soilleron   Pont de Bassin Court sur la Meuse (D33)
	Breuvannes-en-Bassigny	Breuvannes-en-Bassigny	Ruisseau des Noues   Meuvy   Pont de Meuvy (D220)
	Clefmont	Clefmont	/
	Audeloncourt	Audeloncourt	Ruisseau du Grand Pré
	Levécourt	Levécourt	Ruisseau de la Hourie   Levécourt   Pont de Levécourt (D131)
	Huilliécourt	Doncourt-sur-Meuse	/
	Hâcourt	Hâcourt	Pont de Hâcourt
	Bourg-Sainte-Marie		Hâcourt   Ruisseau de Piot
		Brainville-sur-Meuse	Pont de Bourg-Sainte-Marie (D119)
	Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon	Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon	Bourmont
	Saint-Thiébault		Saint-Thiébault   Pont de Saint-Thiébault (D16)   Ruisseau d'Illoud
	Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon		Pont de Gonaincourt (D119)   Gonaincourt   Le Mordé   Pont de Bourmont sur la Meuse (D148)   Goncourt
	Harréville-les-Chanteurs	Harréville-les-Chanteurs	Railway bridges Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line (2x)   Harréville-les-Chanteurs   Pont de Harréville-les-Chanteurs (D202)
France Grand Est Region Vosges Department	Bazoilles-sur-Meuse	Bazoilles-sur-Meuse	Railway bridges Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line (2x)   Pont de Bazoilles-sur-Meuse (D74 Langres - Neufchâteau)   Bazoilles-sur-Meuse
	Neufchâteau	Neufchâteau	Railway bridge Culmont-Chalindrey - Toul line   Neufchâteau   Pont de Neufchâteau (D674 Chaumont - Neufchâteau)   Mouzon   Railway bridge at Neufchâteau railway station   Pont All. Charles Péguy
	Frebécourt	Frebécourt	Pont de Frebécourt   Frebécourt   La Saônelle
	Coussey	Coussey	Coussey   Pont de Coussey (D3)
	Domrémy-la-Pucelle	Domrémy-la-Pucelle	Pont de Domrémy-la-Pucelle (D164 Neufchâteau - Greux)   Domrémy-la-Pucelle
	Greux	Maxey-sur-Meuse	Vair
	Maxey-sur-Meuse		Maxey-sur-Meuse   Pont de D19
France Grand Est Region Meuse Department	Brixey-aux-Chanoines	Brixey-aux-Chanoines	Pont de Brixey-aux-Chanoines
	Sauvigny	Sauvigny	Ruisseau de Ruppes   Sauvigny   Pont de Sauvigny
	Montbras		/
	Sauvigny		Pont de Traveron   Traveron
	Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte	Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte	Rivière de Chêtre   Pont de Pagny-la-Blanche-Côte (D32)   Rivière de Chêtre
	Montbras	Champougny	/
	Taillancourt		La Haute Meuse
	Champougny		Champougny   Pont de Champougny
	Maxey-sur-Vaise	Maxey-sur-Vaise	/
	Burey-en-Vaux	Sepvigny	/
	Sepvigny		Pont de Sepvigny (D145)
	Neuville-lès-Vaucouleurs	Neuville-lès-Vaucouleurs	/
	Vaucouleurs	Chalaines	Chalaines   Pont de Chalaines (D960 Toul - Bure)   La Haute Meuse
	Ugny-sur-Meuse	Rigny-la-Salle	Le Goulot de Meuse   Ugny-sur-Meuse
		Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse	Pont de Ugny-sur-Meuse (D36)   Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse   Pont de Saint-Germain-sur-Meuse (D144A)
	Ugny-sur-Meuse	Ourches-sur-Meuse	Ourches-sur-Meuse   Pont de D144
	Pagny-sur-Meuse	Pagny-sur-Meuse	Pont de Pagny-sur-Meuse (N4 Paris - Strasbourg)   Pagny-sur-Meuse   Pont de D36
	Troussey	Troussey	Troussey   Pont de D36C   Marne–Rhine Canal   Pont de Troussey (D36)
	Void-Vacon	Sorcy-Saint-Martin	Ruisseau de Frasne   Le Vidus
	Sorcy-Saint-Martin		Pont de Sorcy-Saint-Martin (D10)   Sorcy-Saint-Martin   Pont de D144
	Sorcy-Saint-Martin	Euville	Railway bridge Paris-Est–Strasbourg-Ville line   Issey   Pont d'Euville (D144)   Canal de l'Est
	Commercy	Commercy	Canal de l'Est   Pont de D36   Ruisseau de la Noue
	Vignot	Vignot	Ruisseau d'Aulnois   Pont de Vignot (D958 Commercy - Pont-à-Mousson)   Vignot
	Commercy	Commercy	Pont de Rte de Boncourt (D8A)   Canal de l'Est
	Lérouville	Commercy	Canal de l'Est
	Boncourt-sur-Meuse	Boncourt-sur-Meuse	Railway bridge Lérouville - Metz line   Pont de Boncourt-sur-Meuse
	Pont-sur-Meuse	Pont-sur-Meuse	Pont-sur-Meuse   Pont de Pont-sur-Meuse (D12)   Ruisseau de Chonville
	Vadonville		/
	Mécrin	Mécrin	Pont de Mécrin (D12A)   Mécrin
	Sampigny	Han-sur-Meuse	Rivière de Mont
	Han-sur-Meuse		Brasseitte   Pont du Moulin Blussot (D183)   Ally-sur-Meuse   Han-sur-Meuse
		Saint-Mihiel	Pont de Han-sur-Meuse (D7A)
	Kœur-la-Petite	Bislée	Pont de D964 (Commercy - Verdun)   Canal de l'Est
	Kœur-la-Grande		Pont de Bislée (D171)   Bislée
	Chauvoncourt		Canal de l'Est
		Chauvoncourt	Menonville
	Saint-Mihiel	Saint-Mihiel	Canal de l'Est   Saint-Mihiel   Pont de Saint-Mihiel (D901 Saint-Mihiel - Rumont)
	Les Paroches	Maizey	Le Rehaut   Canal de l'Est
	Maizey		Maizy
	Dompcevrin		Pont de Maizy (D101)   Dompcevrin   Le Hamboquin
	Bannoncourt	Rouvrois-sur-Meuse	/
		Bannoncourt	La Petite Meuse   Pont de Bannoncourt (D109)   Bannoncourt   Railway bridge LGV Est high speed line (Paris - Strasbourg)   Ruisseau de Rompierre
		Lacroix-sur-Meuse	La Prêle
	Woimbey		/
	Troyon	Troyon	Pont de Troyon   Troyon
	Bouquemont		/
	Tilly-sur-Meuse		/
		Tilly-sur-Meuse	Pont de Tilly-sur-Meuse   Tilly-sur-Meuse
		Ambly-sur-Meuse	Ruisseau de Récourt
	Villers-sur-Meuse	Villers-sur-Meuse	Villers-sur-Meuse   Pont de Villers-sur-Meuse (D21)
	Les Monthairons	Les Monthairons	Pont de Rue du Lavoir   Les Monthairons   Le Petit Monthairon
	Dieue-sur-Meuse	Dieue-sur-Meuse	Le Clair Fossé   Ruisseau de la Dieue   La Petite Meuse   Pont de Dieue-sur-Meuse (D159)   Dieue-sur-Meuse   Ruisseau de Billonneau   Ruisseau de la Dieue
	Dugny-sur-Meuse	Haudainville	Pont de l'Autoroute A4 (Paris - Strasbourg)   Ruisseau du Franc Ban
	Belleray	Belleray	Pont de Belleray (D301)   Belleray   Canal de l'Est
	Verdun	Verdun	Saint Vanne   Pont de D330   Pont de Rued'Anthouard   Verdun   Saint Vanne   Pont Fernand Legay   Canal du Puty   Pont Chaussée   Pont de D603 (Verdun - Metz)
	Belleville-sur-Meuse	Thierville-sur-Meuse	Railway bridge St-Hilaire-au-Temple-Hagondange line (Verdun-Metz)   Canal de l'Est   La Scance   Pont de D302B
	Charny-sur-Meuse	Bras-sur-Meuse	Charny-sur-Meuse   Pont de Bras-sur-Meuse (D115)
	Vacherauville	Vacherauville	Vacherauville
	Marre	Champneuville	Ruisseau de la Claire
	Chattancourt		/
	Champneuville		Pont de Champneuville (D214)
	Cumières-le-Mort-Homme		/
	Regnéville-sur-Meuse	Samogneux	Regnéville-sur-Meuse   Pont de Samogneux   Samogneux
	Forges-sur-Meuse	Brabant-sur-Meuse	Ruisseau de Forges
Consenvoye	Consenvoye	Pont de Consenvoye   Consenvoye
Dannevoux	Sivry-sur-Meuse	Canal de l'Est   Ruisseau de Guénoville   Le Butel   Pont de Dannevoux   Ruisseau de Brouzel
Vilosnes-Haraumont	Vilosnes-Haraumont	Canal de l'Est   Canal de l'Est   Vilosnes-Haraumont   Pont de Vilosnes-Haraumont (D123B)
Brieulles-sur-Meuse	Brieulles-sur-Meuse	Ruisseau de Domfontaine   Brieulles-sur-Meuse   Le Wassieu
Cléry-le-Petit	Liny-devant-Dun	Le Doua   La Tranchée
	Dun-sur-Meuse	Canal de l'Est
Doulcon		Dun-sur-Meuse   Pont de Dun-sur-Meuse (D998)   Doulcon   L'Andon
Sassey-sur-Meuse	Milly-sur-Bradon	Ruisseau de Bradon   Canal de l'Est
	Sassey-sur-Meuse	Sassey-sur-Meuse   Pont de Sassey-sur-Meuse (D30)   Ruisseau des Gaules
Mont-devant-Sassey		Ruisseau de Mont   Ruisseau de Longvaux
Saulmory-Villefranche	Mouzay	Ruisseau de Froide Fontaine   Le Grand Mohat   Le Petit Mohat
Wiseppe		/
Stenay		Canal de l'Est
	Stenay	Pont de Stenay (D947 Stenay - Montmédy)   Stenay   Canal de l'Est   La Wiseppe   Ruisseau de Cervizy
Martincourt-sur-Meuse	Martincourt-sur-Meuse	Pont de Martincourt-sur-Meuse   Martincourt-sur-Meuse
Luzy-Saint-Martin	Inor	Ruisseau de Cesse   Pont de Luz   Inor   Canal de l'Est
Pouilly-sur-Meuse		Ruisseau du Fond de Noue
	Pouilly-sur-Meuse	Pont de Pouilly-sur-Meuse   Pouilly-sur-Meuse
/  France Grand Est Region Ardennes Department / Meuse Department	Létanne	Pouilly-sur-Meuse	La Wame   Létanne
France Grand Est Region Ardennes Department	Létanne	Mouzon	Le Bras de Vincy   Canal de l'Est   Canal de l'Est
	Mouzon		Mouzon   Pont de D19
	Autrecourt-et-Pourron		Yoncq   Autrecourt   Ruisseau de Brouhan
	Villers-devant-Mouzon		Villers-devant-Mouzon   Ruisseau de la Vignette   Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines   Coupure de Remilly
	Remilly-Aillicourt	Douzy	/
		Remilly-Aillicourt	Petit Remilly   Pont de Remilly-Aillicourt (D4)   Remilly
		Bazeilles	Chiers   Aillicourt   Pont de Bazeilles (D129)   Coupure de Remilly
	Noyers-Pont-Maugis		Ruisseau de Thélonne   Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Sedan - Thionville)   Pont-Maugis
		Balan	Ruisseau de Batelotte
	Wadelincourt		Wadelincourt
		Sedan	Pont de Sedan (N43 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières)
	Sedan		Pont de l'Avenue Philippoteaux (D8043A)   Canal de l'Est   Pont du Boulevard Fabert   Sedan   Pont de Meuse   Passerelle Saint-Vincent de Paul   Canal de l'Est   Pont-Neuf de Sedan
	Glaire	Floing	Ruz de Glaire   Floing   Glaire   Tour à Glaire (Glaire)   Ruisseau de Floing   Igles (Glaire)
		Saint-Menges	Ruisseau du Bas Caillou   Saint-Menges
		Donchery	Ruisseau de la Falizette   Villette (Glaire)   Pont de Glaire (A34 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières)   Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)
	Sedan		Frénois (Sedan)
	Donchery		Pont de Donchery (D24)   Donchery
	Villers-sur-Bar		Vrigne
		Vrigne-Meuse	Vrigne-Meuse   Bar
	Dom-le-Mesnil		Canal des Ardennes
		Nouvion-sur-Meuse	Nouvion-sur-Meuse   Pont de Nouvion-sur-Meuse (D33)
	Flize		Ruisseau des Trois Fontaines   Flize   Ruisseau de Boutancourt
	Chalandry-Elaire		Elaire (Chalandry-Elaire)
	Les Ayvelles	Lumes	Lumes
	Lumes		Railway bridge Mohon-Thionville line (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)
	Villers-Semeuse		Pont de Lumes (A34 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières)   Ruisseau de la Truie   Dérivation de Romery
		Saint-Laurent	Dérivation de Romery
		Charleville-Mézières	Le Theux (Charleville-Mézières)
	Charleville-Mézières		Vence   Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Reims)   Mohon (Charleville-Mézières)   Canal de l'Est   Pont de la Victoire (D8043A)   Mézières (Charleville-Mézières)   Pont de Pierre   Saint-Julien (Charleville-Mézières)
	Prix-lès-Mézières		Pont de Manchester (N43 Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)   Ruisseau du Marbay   Manchester (Charleville-Mézières)   Prix-lès-Mézières   Ruisseau des Rejets   Ruisseau de Praëlle
	Warcq		Warcq   Pont de Warcq (D16)   Sormonne
	Charleville-Mézières		Pont de N43 (Charleville-Mézières - Sedan)   Passerelle Bayard   Pont d'Arches (D8043A)   Canal de l'Est   Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Reims)   Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Canal de l'Est   Charleville-Mézières   Pont de Mocy (D58)   Montcy-Saint-Pierre (Charleville-Mézières)   Passerelle du Mont Olympe
	Montcy-Notre-Dame		Ruisseau de la Fontaine du Prince   Ruisseau de Soiru   Montcy-Notre-Dame   Pont de Montcy-Notre-Dame (D58A)   Canal de l'Est
		Aiglemont	/
		Nouzonville	/
	Nouzonville		Nouzonville   La Goutelle   Ruisseau du Pré Allard   Pont de Nouzonville (D13)
	Joigny-sur-Meuse	Joigny-sur-Meuse	Pont de Joigny-sur-Meuse (D1A)   Joigny-sur-Meuse
	Bogny-sur-Meuse	Bogny-sur-Meuse	Braux   Pont Jean-Rogissart (D1)   Levrézy   Bogny-sur-Meuse   Pont Rue Jourde (D1C)   Château Regnault
	Monthermé		Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)
		Monthermé	Semois   Monthermé   Pont de Monthermé (D989)
	Deville		Deville   Ruisseau de Mairupt
	Laifour		Ruisseau de la Lambrèque
		Revin	Ruisseau de la Grande Commune   Ruisseau de la Petite Commune   Laifour   Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Pont de Laifour (D1)
	Les Mazures		/
	Anchamps		Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Anchamps   Pont d'Anchamps (D1B)   Ru de la Pille   Ruisseau des Meurtriers
	Revin		Orzy   Pont d'Orzy   Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Revin   Pont de la Bouverie (D988 Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Sartnizon
	Rocroi		Pont de Saint-Nicolas   Saint-Nicolas (Rocroi)   Faux   Ruisseau de Falières
	Revin		Pont de Fumay (D988 Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Ruisseau des Cochons
	Fumay		Ruisseau de Come
		Fumay	Ruisseau des Manises   Railway bridge Soissons - Givet line (Charleville-Mézières - Givet)   Ruisseau de la Folie
		Haybes	Fumay   Pont de Fumay (D7)   Ri d'Alyse
	Haybes		Pont de la Guerre (D7B)   Haybes   Ruisseau de Mohron
	Fépin		Ruisseau d'Hargnies   Fépin
	Montigny-sur-Meuse	Vireux-Wallerand	Risdoux   Fond de la Mènerie   Montigny-sur-Meuse
	Vireux-Molhain		Vireux-Molhain   Vireux-Wallerand   Pont de Vireux (D989)
	Hierges		Viroin
	Aubrives	Aubrives	Aubrives
		Ham-sur-Meuse	Ham-sur-Meuse   Pont de Ham (D46DB)
	Chooz		Chooz Nuclear Power Plant
		Chooz	Pont de Chemin de Mission   Chooz   Pont de Chooz
		Rancennes	Le Fond des Vaux   Les Trois Fontaines (Chooz)
	Givet		/
		Givet	Ruisseau de Rancennes   Givet   Pont des Américains (D949)   Houille
/   /   /  France / Belgium Grand Est Region / Wallonia Region Ardennes Department / Namur Province	Givet	Hastière	Ruisseau de Mon Idée   Heer (Hastière)
Belgium Wallonia Region Namur Province	Hastière	Hastière	Heer-Agimont   Pont de N909   Hermeton-sur-Meuse   Hermeton   Ruisseau de Féron   Hastière-Lavaux   Hastière-par-delà   Pont de Hastière-Lavaux (N915)   Fond des Vaux   Ruisseau de Bonsoy   Ruisseau de la Roule   Waulsort   Ruisseau du Chestia
		Dinant	Freÿr (Hastière)   Moniat (Hastière)
	Dinant		Anseremme   Noyon Pré   Railway bridge line 166 Libramont - Bertrix - Dinant   Lesse   Viaduc Charlemagne (N97 Ciney - Philippeville)   Neffe   Saint-Paul   Dinant   Pont Charles de Gaulle (N936)   Leffe   Ruisseau de Leffe   Bouvignes-sur-Meuse
		Yvoir	/
	Anhée		Houx (Yvoir)   Railway bridge line 154 Dinant - Namur   Anhée   Molignée   Pont d'Anhée (N92 Namur - Dinant)   Yvoir   BocqBocq   Hun (Anhée)   Rouillon (Anhée)   Pont de Rouillon (N947a)
	Profondeville		Godinne (Yvoir)   Rivière (Profondeville)
		Profondeville	Burnot   Burnot   Pont de Lustin (N947)   Profondeville   Tailfer   Ruisseau de Tailfer
	Namur		Boreuville (Namur)
		Namur	Pont de Wépion   Grand Ry   Dave   Ruisseau de Dave   Wépion   Marlagne   La Plante   Pont de Jambes   Jambes   Passerelle l'Enjambée   Sambre   Namur   Pont des Ardennes (N90 Namur - Liège)   Houyoux   Railway bridge 'Pont de Luxembourg' line 154 Dinant - Namur   Bouge   Pont des Grands Malades (N905)   Viaduc du Beez (E411 Namur - Arlon)   Beez   Lives-sur-Meuse   Brumagne   Gelbresse   Marche-les-Dames
	Andenne	Andenne	Samson   Samson   Pont de Namêche (N942)   Namêche   Sclayn   Pont de N968   Ruisseau de la Loysse   Seilles   Andenne   Pont d'Andenne (N921)   Andenelle
Belgium Wallonia Region Liège Province	Wanze	Huy	Gisves (Huy)   Java (Wanze)   Ben (Huy)   Bas-Oha (Wanze)   Solière   Pont Père Pire (N643)   Wanze   Mehaigne
	Huy		Anhin   Railway bridge   Pont Roi Baudouin (N64 Tienen - Huy)   Huy   Hoyoux   Pont de l'Europe
	Amay		Tihange Nuclear Power Station   Tihange (Huy)   Pont d'Ampsin (N684)   Ampsin (Amay)   Neuville-sous-Huy (Huy)
		Amay	Pont d'Ombret (N696)   Amay   Ombret-Rawsa
		Engis	Ruisseau d'Oxhe   Flône (Amay)
	Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse		Pont de Hermalle   Hermalle-sous-Huy (Engis)   Mallieue (Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse)
	Engis		Engis   Pont d'Engis (N639)
	Flémalle	Flémalle	Ramioul   Ramet   Chokier   Ivoz   Pont barrage d'Ivoz-Ramet (N677)   Flémalle
		Seraing	Ruisseau de Ville en Cour   Railway bridge line 125A (Liers - Liège - Flémalle-Haute)   Val
	Seraing		Troque   Jemeppe-sur-Meuse   Seraing   Pont de Seraing (A604 highway Liège Airport - Seraing)
	Saint-Nicolas		Tilleur (Saint-Nicolas)
	Liège		Ougrée (Seraing)   Sclessin (Liège)   Pont d'Ougrée (N63 Liège - Marche-en-Famenne)   Railway bridge cargo line
		Liège	Kinkempois   Pont de Liège (E25 highway Liège - Luxembourg City  )   Railway bridge high speed line 3 (Liège - Aachen  )   Angleur   Canal de l'Ourthe   Pont de Fragnée   Ourthe   Passerelle la Belle Liègeoise   Pont du Roi Albert 1er (N30)   Pont Kennedy   Passerelle Saucy   Liège   Pont des Arches (N3 Liège – Germany  )   Pont Maghin   Pont Atlas   Bressoux   Jupille-sur-Meuse   Albert Canal   Pont - Barrage de Monsin Monsin Island   Canal de Monsin
	Herstal		Herstal   Wandre (Liège)   Pont de Wandre (N667)   Pont d'Autorute E40 (Liège - Aachen  )
	Oupeye	Visé	Cheratte (Visé)   Argenteau (Visé)   Julienne   Hermalle-sous-Argenteau (Oupeye)   Pont de Hermalle-sous-Argenteau   Richelle (Visé)   Pont Trilogiport
	Visé		Visé   Pont de Visé (N618)   Canal de Haccourt - Visé   Railway bridge 'Pont des Allemands'   Pont et barrage de Lixhe (N602)
/   /  Belgium Wallonia Region / Flanders Region Liège Province / Limburg Province	Visé	Voeren	Lixhe (Visé)   Berwinne   Nivelle (Visé)
/   /    Belgium / Netherlands Wallonia Region / Limburg Province Liège Province	Visé	Eijsden-Margraten	Voer   Eijsden (Eijsden-Margraten)   Lanaye (Visé)   Bike ferry service Lanaye - Eijsden   Canal de Lanaye   Petit Lanaye (Visé)
Netherlands Limburg Province	Maastricht	Maastricht	Maastricht   John F. Kennedybrug N278 (Maastricht - Aachen  )   JekerJeker   Pedestrial bridge 'Hoge Brug'   Pedestrial bridge 'Sint-Servaasbrug'   Wilhelminabrug   Railway bridge Maastricht   Noorderbrug   Zuid-Willemsvaart   Juliana Canal   Borgharen
/   /    Belgium / Netherlands Flanders Region / Limburg Province Limburg	Lanaken	Maastricht	Smeermaas (Lanaken)   Itteren (Maastricht)   Neerharen (Lanaken)
	Maasmechelen	Meerssen	Geul   Uikhoven (Maasmechelen)   Bike ferry service Uikhoven - Geulle aan de Maas   Geulle aan de Maas (Meerssen)   Oude Broekgraaf
		Stein	Kotem   Elsloo   Scharbergbrug (E314   / A76   Genk   - Heerlen   - Aachen  )   Stein   Meers   Maasmechelen   Kirkbeek   Maasband   Leut (Maasmechelen)   Ur   Urmond (Stein)   Berg aan de Maas (Stein)   Car ferry service Meeswijk - Berg aan de Maas
	Dilsen-Stokkem	Sittard-Geleen	Obbicht (Sittard-Geleen)   Boyen (Dilsen-Stokkem)   Vrietselbeek   Bike ferry service Rotem - Grevenbicht   Grevenbicht (Sittard-Geleen)   Kogbeek   Kingbeek
		Echt-Susteren	Illikhoven (Sittard-Geleen)   Visserweert (Sittard-Geleen)
	Maaseik		Heppeneert (Maaseik)   Kokkelert (Sittard-Geleen)   Zanderbeek   Maaseik   Pater Sangersbrug (N761   / N296   Maaseik   - Susteren  )
		Maasgouw	Ohé en Laak (Maasgouw)   Bosbeek   Aldeneik (Maaseik)
	Kinrooi		Ophoven (Kinrooi)   Bike ferry service Ophoven - Ohé en Laak   Albeek   Stevensweert (Maasgouw)
Netherlands Limburg Province	Maasgouw	Maasgouw	Maasbracht   Wessem   Bike ferry service Thorn - Wessem   Bike ferry service Maasbracht - Wessem   Maasbrug bij Wessem (A2 Eindhoven - Maastricht)   Juliana Canal   Wessem-Nederweert Canal   Linne-Buggenum Canal
	Roermond		Vlootbeek   Linne (Maasgouw)
		Roermond	Merum   Bike ferry service Ool - Oolderhuuske   Ool   Herten   Roermond   Rur   Louis Raemaekersbrug (N280 Roermond - Weert)   Maasnielderbeek   Railway bridge Buggenum (Iron Rhine Weert - Roermond)
	Leudal		Linne-Buggenum Canal   Buggenum (Leudal)   Neerbeek   Swalm
		Beesel	Bike ferry service Neer - Rijkel   Rijkel (Beesel)   Neer (Leudal)
	Peel en Maas		Beesel   Kessel-Eik (Peel en Maas)   Huilbeek   Kessel (Peel en Maas)   Car ferry service Kessel - Beesel   Tasbeek   Reuver (Beesel)   Scheikensbeek
		Venlo	Oijen (Peel en Maas)   Belfeld (Venlo)   Aalsbeek   Steyl (Venlo)   Car ferry service Baarlo - Steyl
	Venlo		Engerbeek   Tegelen   Springbeek   Zuiderbrug (A73 Nijmegen - Venlo)   Wijlderbeek   Blerick   Stadsbrug Venlo (N556)   Railway bridge Venlo (Venlo–Eindhoven and Nijmegen–Venlo lines)   Venlo   Rijnbeek   Stepkensbeek   Noorderbrug (A67 Venlo - Duisburg  )
	Horst aan de Maas		Stopbeek   Baarsdonk   Everlose Beek   Vorstermolenbeek   Grubbenvorst (Horst aan de Maas)   Velden (Venlo)   Car ferry service Grubbenvorst - Velden   Latbeek   Hasselt (Venlo)   Salderbeek   Houthuizen (Horst aan de Maas)   Molenbeek van Lotum   Lomm (Venlo)   Wielder (Horst aan de Maas)   Tassbeek   Lottum (Horst aan de Maas)   Car ferry service Lottum - Lomm   Pedestrian ferry service Lottum - Arcen   Arcen (Venlo)   Aarsbeek   Broekhuizen (Horst aan de Maas)   Car ferry service Broekhuizen - Arcen   Molenbeek   Broekhuizenvorst (Horst aan de Maas)   Rode Beek
		Bergen	Geldernsch-Nierkanaal
	Venray		Wellerlooi (Bergen)   Blitterswijck (Venray)   Bike ferry service Blitterswijck - Wellerlooi   Sohr   Koninginnebrug N270 (Venray - Eindhoven)   Well (Bergen)   Wanssum (Venray)   Grote Molenbeek   Oostrumsche Beek   Geijsteren (Venray)
/  Netherlands Limburg Province / North Brabant province	Land van Cuijk	Bergen	Maashees   Ayensebeek   Aijen (Bergen)   Vierlingsbeek (Land van Cuijk)   Car ferry service Vierlingsbeek - Bergen   Bergen   Molenbeek   Heukelomsebeek   Heukelom (Bergen)   Eckeltse Beek   Rekgraaf   Afferden (Bergen)   Car ferry service Sambeek - Afferden   Sint-Jansbeek   Sambeek (Land van Cuijk)
		Gennep	Boxmeer (Land van Cuijk)   Maasbrug van Boxmeer (A77 Boxmeer - Cologne  )   Heijen (Gennep)   Gennep   Maasbrug van Gennep (N264 Gennep - Veghel)   Niers   Oeffeltsche Raam   Milsbeek (Gennep)   Tielebeek
		Mook en Middelaar	Sint-Agatha (Land van Cuijk)   Middelaar (Mook en Middelaar)   Virdsche Graaf   Cuijk (Land van Cuijk)   Car ferry service Cuijk - Middelaar   Mooks Kanaal   Mook (Mook en Middelaar)   Katwijk (Land van Cuijk)   Railway bridge Mook (Nijmegen–Venlo line)   Molenhoek (Mook en Middelaar)
/  Netherlands Gelderland / North Brabant province		Heumen	Maas–Waal Canal   Heumen   Maasbrug van Heumen (A73 Nijmegen - Venlo)   Overasselt (Heumen)   Tochtsloot   Grave (Land van Cuijk)   John S. Thompsonbrug (N324 Grave - Nijmegen)   Nederasselt (Heumen)   Raam
		Wijchen	Balgoij (Wijchen)
	Oss		Keent (Oss)   Neerloon (Oss)   Niftrik (Wijchen)   Maasbrug van Ravenstein (A50 Nijmegen - Eindhoven)   Ravenstein (Oss)   Bike ferry service Ravenstein - Niftrik   Railway bridge 'Edithbrug' (Tilburg-Nijmegen line)   Neerlangel (Oss)   Demen (Oss)   Batenburg (Wijchen)   Bike ferry service Demen - Batenburg   Dieden (Oss)
		West Maas en Waal	Nieuwe Wetering   Appeltern (West Maas en Waal)   De Vliet   Car ferry service Appeltern - Megen   Megen (Oss)   Car ferry service Maasbommel - Megen-West   Maasbommel (West Maas en Waal)   Burgemeester Delenkanaal   Boveneind (Oss)   Berghuizen (West Maas en Waal)   Oijen (Oss)   Car ferry service Oijen - Nieuwe Schans   Greffeling (West Maas en Waal)   Alphen (West Maas en Waal)   Lithoijen (Oss)   Lith (Oss)   Moordhuizen (West Maas en Waal)   Car ferry service Lith - Moordhuizen
		Maasdriel	Voorne (Maasdriel)   Heerewaarden (Maasdriel)   Bike ferry service Heerewaarden - Lithse Ham   Maren-Kessel (Oss)   Sint Andries canal   Car ferry service Alem - Maren-Kessel   't Wild (Oss)   Kerkdriel (Maasdriel)   Hertogswetering   Hoefgraaf
	's-Hertogenbosch		Gewande ('s-Hertogenbosch)   Hoenzadriel (Maasdriel)   Máxima Canal   Empel ('s-Hertogenbosch)   Maasbrug van Empel (A2 's-Hertogenbosch - Utrecht)   's-Hertogenbosch   Railway bridge 'Hedelse spoorbrug' (Utrecht–Boxtel line)   Prinses Irenebrigadebrug   Hedel (Maasdriel)   Oude Dieze   Dieze   Bokhoven ('s-Hertogenbosch)   Ammerzoden (Maasdriel)
	Heusden		Well (Maasdriel)   Zooislagen Buitendijkse Loop
		Zaltbommel	Car ferry service Bern - Herpt   Bern (Zaltbommel)   Heusden   Heusden Canal
Netherlands North Brabant province	Heusden	Altena	Maasbrug van Heusden (N267 Heusden - Giessen)   Heesbeen (Heusden)   Genderen (Altena)   Doeveren (Heusden)
	Waalwijk		Afwateringskanaal 's-Hertogenbosch - Drongelen   Drongelen (Altena)   Waalwijk   Car ferry service Drongelen - Waalwijk   Car ferry service Dussen - Capelle   Dussen (Altena)
	Geertruidenberg		Peerenboom (Altena)   Keizersveerbrug (A27 Breda - Utrecht)   Raamsdonksveer (Geertruidenberg)   Geertruidenberg   Nieuwe Merwede Mouth into the North Sea

The Meuse (Maas) is mentioned in the first stanza of Germany's old national anthem, the Deutschlandlied. However, since its re-adoption as national anthem in 1952, only the third stanza of the Deutschlandlied has been sung as the German national anthem, the first and second stanzas being omitted. This was confirmed after German reunification in 1991 when only the third stanza was defined as the official anthem. The lyrics written in 1841 describe a then–disunited Germany with the river as its western boundary, where King William I of the Netherlands had joined the German Confederation with his Duchy of Limburg in 1839. Though the duchy's territory officially became an integral part of the Netherlands by the 1867 Treaty of London, the text passage remained unchanged when the Deutschlandlied was declared the national anthem of the Weimar Republic in 1922.

The name of the rivers also forms part of the title of "Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse", written after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and a popular patriotic song for the rest of the 19th century and into the 20th.

• 1930 Meuse Valley fog
• Moulin de Rouvres
• Rida (River)