Schelde River is one of the most important commercial waterways of Europe, especially in Belgium. It rises southeast of Lille, France–where it is called the Escaut River–and flows northeast through Belgium. In Antwerp, Belgium, the river separates into the East Schelde and the West Schelde, which flow through the Netherlands to the North Sea. The Schelde is 270 miles (435 kilometers) long and is navigable for about 210 miles (338 kilometers). Canals link the Schelde, Meuse, and Rhine rivers.
For about 200 years, the Dutch held the right to close the Schelde to ships. The Treaty of London of 1839, between Belgium and the Netherlands, gave the Netherlands permission to charge a toll for the use of the Schelde by Belgian vessels. These tolls were abolished in 1863. During World War I (1914-1918), the Netherlands closed the river to warships. During World War II (1939-1945), heavy fighting occurred along the Schelde and the Albert Canal, which connects the Schelde and Meuse rivers.
