Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Programme 2000 - 2006 North Sea Region

Date of latest update: 2021-04-06

Description

Description (EN):

Canal Link's aim was to investigate how the region's network of navigable waterways can be further developed, based on the cultural and environmental heritage of the waterways themselves. Three broad themes were investigated: • Development of tourism links across the North Sea and between inland waterways in the region; • Development and expansion of the recreational waterway network in the region; • Promotion and development of economic activity and entrepreneurship, based on the cultural heritage and tourism on inland waterways.

Achievements (EN):

As a key result the Canal Link project carried out a study into opportunities for developing yachting links between canals across the North Sea, particularly between Scotland and Scandinavia. Following this approach initial follow-up promotional activities were undertaken, including provision of better information and the development of travel packages. Further improvements were made to canal entrance harbours to provide a better welcome for visiting yachtsmen. Another main achievement was the classification of a recreational waterway network of the North Sea Region according to the proposed United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) classification system. Therefore an initial assessment of gaps and bottlenecks in the network was made, followed by actions to contribute to the extension of the waterway network in the region. Additionally a specific investigation into the issue of waste water from recreational boats was carried out (which may have implications in terms of the Water Framework Directive). Canal Link raised awareness at both national and EU levels to see the importance of the inland waterway network of Europe for tourism and recreation, and as a catalyst for the economic, social and environmental regeneration of communities. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) classification system forms a basis for defining this network. The Canal Link pilot work undertaken in relation to this will be used to feed back comments and conclusions to the UNECE Secretariat regarding possible recommendations to national states. In the long-term, this might form the basis for a future EU initiative in this area.

Thematic information

Clustering and economic cooperation Tourism Waterways, lakes and rivers

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: British Waterways

Address: Willow Grange, Church Road, WD17 4QA Watford, United Kingdom

Legal status: n/a

Telemarks Fylkeskommune

Name: Telemarks Fylkeskommune

Address: Fylkeshuset, 3706 Skien, Norway

Legal status: n/a

Province of Noord-Holland, Dept. Water en Groen

Name: Province of Noord-Holland, Dept. Water en Groen

Address: Postbox 3007, 2001 DA Haarlem, Netherlands

Legal status: n/a

Stichting Recretietoervaart

Name: Stichting Recretietoervaart

Address: Postbus 102, 3970 AC Driebergen, Netherlands

Legal status: n/a

Freie Hansestadt Bremen

Name: Freie Hansestadt Bremen

Address: Ansgaritorstrasse, D-28195 Bremen, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Länsstyrelsen Värmland

Name: Länsstyrelsen Värmland

Address: Vaxnasgatan 5-7, SE-651 86 Karlstad, Sweden

Legal status: n/a

Municipality of Langedijk

Name: Municipality of Langedijk

Address: PO Box 15, 1723 ZG Noord Scharwoude, Netherlands

Legal status: n/a

Provincie West-Vlaanderen, Streekhuis Midden-West-Vlaanderen

Name: Provincie West-Vlaanderen, Streekhuis Midden-West-Vlaanderen

Address: Peter Benoitstraat 13, 8800 Roeselare, Belgium

Legal status: n/a

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Telemarks Fylkeskommune

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

Province of Noord-Holland, Dept. Water en Groen

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

Stichting Recretietoervaart

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

Free Hanseatic City of Bremen

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

Länsstyrelsen Värmland

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Langedijk

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

Provincie West-Vlaanderen, Streekhuis Midden-West-Vlaanderen

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Partners and Projects info

British Waterways

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Project acronym: Canal Link

Project start date: 2003-03-05

Project end date: 2006-06-30

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 103 136.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 551 568.00

Co-financing sources:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2000 - 2006 North Sea Region

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2019-04-25

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

557 / 557 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Canal Link: New Opportunities for Inland Waterways across the North Sea

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer