river bank Waal Zaltbommel,Netherlands 1218 pm 260423_0099

One ship has just passed and another is approaching along the busy River Waal near Zaltbommel in the Netherlands.
Now that things have quietened down a bit, you can hear the birds too.
On the left, an old building is being demolished and people are shortly chatting on the quay.

About the picture
The photo shows an old ferry landing. On the right is an old, somewhat dilapidated but still functioning government water level gauge. The microphone is positioned just behind the building, sheltered from the wind.

Directly in front of you is the wide river, where an inland vessel is navigating against the strong current.

On the left is the entrance to the town harbour, which is mainly used for pleasure boating. A tour boat is currently moored there. On the opposite side of the small harbour stands an old, dilapidated building. There are two cars on the quay.

Slightly to the left of centre, next to the landing stage, is a water level gauge with a steel staircase about 3 metres high.

Across the water, you can see the scenic floodplains with their trees and bushes.

The sky is a clear blue.

More tracks here today /More here during the years / More tracks around here on the MAP
About the Waal river
The Waal is the main tributary of the Rhine in the Netherlands. At Pannerden, the bulk of the Rhine’s water leaves the main channel and flows westwards as the Waal towards the North Sea. The river flows past towns such as Nijmegen, Tiel and Zaltbommel, forming a central artery in the Dutch river system.
Thanks to its high water discharge and wide navigable channel, the Waal has become the busiest inland waterway in Western Europe. Every day, hundreds of inland vessels pass through, transporting goods between Germany, the Netherlands and the port of Rotterdam. The river is therefore not only a natural feature but also an economic driver.
Along its banks lie beautiful, expansive floodplains that provide space for high water and form an important nature reserve. Here, channels, grasslands and riverbanks alternate, creating a dynamic landscape that is constantly shaped by the river. Historically, the Waal has played a major role in the development of the region. The river determined where towns were established, how trade developed and where dykes had to be built. To this day, the Waal remains a defining factor in water management, shipping and nature conservation.

Date/time: April 23, 2026, 11:53 am

Weather: 13 ºc, sunny, wind N 13-25 km/h, 1031 hPa, humidity 60%, visibility 28 km, dew point 6 ºc, cloud ceiling -- km,

Location; Veerweg, Zaltbommel Gelderland, Netherlands (Holland), Western Europe. GPS

Gear chain: Sennheiser mkh30/50 MS with pointed W 176 º, in Rycote cyclone small, windjammer > Tascam FR-AV2. Noise floor ~52 dB, Post editing: Decoded Mid-side to STEREO. EQ correction for the blimp and limiter on -3 dB when necessary.

Original 70 minute MS-track 48/32 bit-float available for motivated pro's and artists.

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