Vliet (canal)

The Vliet (Dutch pronunciation: [vlit] ⓘ) is a canal in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland.

It starts at the Oude Rijn at Leiden and joins the Delfshavense Schie canal at Delft.

The canal was dug in 47 AD under command of Roman general Corbulo, who wished to connect the Rhine river, of which the current Oude Rijn stream in Roman times was the main branch, to the Meuse estuary.

The canal was likely improved in 121 AD under the reign of Hadrian and it is theorized that to maintain water levels there may have been dams and spillways.

[3] Windmills have been constructed alongside the Vliet, including the completely renovated mill 'De salamander' in Leidschendam.