Safety notice kayaking, canoeing and rafting on the common Meuse

The Dutch water and shipping administration Rijkswaterstaat advises:

• Wear a buoyancy aid.
• Follow waterway signs and instructions.
• Don’t go out on the water alone.
• Don’t go out on the water after dark.
• Abstain from alcohol and drugs.
• Exercise caution while paddling rapids and stay away from low hanging tree branches.
• Even on sunny days the water temperature may be low.
• Always carry a phone in case of emergency.
• Inexperienced boaters should not go out on the water if the river discharge at Borgharen exceeds 200 m³/s.

Know your waterway signs

Know what these signs mean when you're on the water:

1. Take special notice!
2. Keep left!
3. Caution: ferry ahead!

Safety risks

• Rapids, unexpected currents, shallows, fallen trees and collision might tip your boat over. That might cause injuries.
• If you fall overboard or get stuck in the mud, you might become hypothermic and quickly lose consciousness.
• Contact with contaminated water may cause skin irritation, eye irritation, headaches and gastrointestinal problems.

Emergency? Call 112    Realtime discharges and water level data