Van Harinxmakanaal
The van Harinxmakanaal is a major canal in western Frisland. It runs from the sea at Harlingen eastwards to Leeuwarden. Major places along the canal include Franeker, Dronrijp and Deinum. The canal is 37.5 kilometers long. It was named after Pieter Albert Vincent van Harinxma thoe Slooten in 1950 who was King's Commissioner to Friesland from 1909 to 1945. Prior to this date it was called Harlinger Trekvaart. However this was widened and deepened, and a few corners cut off in 1951. At Suawoude it joins the Prinses Margriet Canal.
The lock Tsjerk Hiddessluizen situated at the connection to the Harlingen harbour maintains the water level in the canal. The canal water level is connected to the water system called Friese boezem, consisting of lakes, waterways and canals in Friesland.
Biology
The van Harinxmakanaal has allowed the Eurasian otter to move freely to new habitats in lakes and rivers in Friesland since 2002. However the banks of the canal are unsuitable for otters as there is no vegetation.Capacity
The canal has been engineered to allow CEMT class IV vessels to transverse. These can have a draft of 3 m, a maximum length of 105 m, width 9.5 m and be up to 2000 tonnes. The height limit under bridges is 5.45 m.Crossing points
van Harinxmakanaal is crossed by a number of bridges or aqueducts. The following are derived from Google Maps.Tributaries
A number of smaller canals and water courses connect with the varinxmakanaal. These are shallower and have lower bridge clearances but may be suitable for recreational vessels.| Name | km | From | Direction | To | Reference |
| 36.9 | Tsjerk Hiddesluizen | southeast | |||
| Ried | 36.4 | North and South | |||
| Verbindingkanal | Koningsbrug | Southwest | Franekertrekvaart, central Harlingen | ||
| Harlingertrekvaart | 35.35 | East | Moorings | ||
| Marconihaven | 34.8 | Harlingen east | north | Harbour | |
| Achlumer Feart | 34.6 | Harlingen east | South | Achlum | |
| Arumer Feart / Arumervaart | 29.7 | Franeker | Southwest | Arum, Achlum | |
| Franeker Watersport Vereniging | 29.2 | North | |||
| Tsjomer Feart | Franeker | East-southeast | Tzum | ||
| Krommer Gracht | 28.6 | Franeker | West | NW Franeker | |
| Noorder Gracht | 28.3 | Franeker | North | Doanjumer Feart | |
| Alde Trekfeart | 27.3 | Franeker | West | Noorder Gracht | |
| Frjentsjerter Feart / Franekervaart | 25.5 | Franeker | Southeast | Winsum, Easterlittens | |
| Hatsumer Opfeart | Southeast | Hatsum | |||
| 22.4 | Dronrijp | Northeast | |||
| Dronrijp | West | Trailerhelling Dronryp | |||
| / Lange Buurstervaart | Southeast | non-navigable | - | - | |
| Puolfeart | De Poelen | North | non-navigable | ||
| Molesleat | Southwest | ||||
| / Bolswarder Vaart | 17.3 | South | Bolsward | ||
| 15.8 | Southeast | Blessum | - | ||
| Deinum | Northwest | Menaldum | |||
| 11.8 | Leeuwarden | South | Sneek | ||
| Middelsee Goutum | South | - | |||
| Himpenserdijkbrug | South | Goutum, de Klamp, Wiarda | - | ||
| ?Drachtsterweg | M.C. Escher Aquaduct | North | - | ||
| Nauwe Greuns | South | Teerns, Hempens, Zuiderburen | - | ||
| Wide Groens | North | - | |||
| Woudmansdiep | North | - | |||
| Wergeasterfeart | Hmpenser Wielen | South | Wergea | - | |
| Alde Lune | 2.8 | North | Louwsmeer | - | |
| Nijdijp | 1.2 | Lange Meer | North | Tytsjerk | - |
A pumping station was built next to the Richard Hageman Aquaduct in 2014. This pumps water from the adjacent polders after it comes through a wetland to remove sludge.
Image:Harlingertrekvaart 1856.jpg|left|thumb|600px|map of Harlinger Trekvaart from 1856 showing tributaries