The city of Arnhem lies on the right (north) bank of the Nederrijn, just past the point where the IJssel branches off.

The Nederrijn flows on to the city of Wijk bij Duurstede, from where it continues as the Lek.

After the railway bridge near Harmelen (municipality Woerden) it is known as the Oude Rijn, flowing westward to the North Sea.

In order to regulate the distribution of drainage between the different branches of the Rhine, several dams have been constructed.

The city, which originated along the St. Jansbeek ("St. John's Brook'), could develop better now that it was closer to the river, and was also more easily defended against Habsburg expansionism into Guelders.