Gauge IJsselkop (IJssel): current water level and draft

IJssel · km 878.46

Measurement607cm05:10 · +10 cm/24hRule of thumb—cmDraft—cm

Water level at the IJsselkop (IJssel) gauge

On 25/10/2026 at 05:10 the IJsselkop (IJssel) gauge read 607 cm, 10 cm higher than 24 hours earlier. Source: Rijkswaterstaat.

Gauge IJsselkop (IJssel) is on the IJssel at kilometre 878.46, on the km 867–903 stretch.

Fairway depth and rule of thumb

The OLR is 683 cm and the fairway depth aimed for below it (TuOLR) is 250 cm; after a safety margin of 30 cm, the targeted official rule of thumb comes to IJsselkop (IJssel) -463.

In practice IJsselkop (IJssel) -480 is used here, -17 cm against the official rule.

Note that Rijkswaterstaat publishes an MGD (Minst Gepeilde Diepte, least sounded depth). It always takes precedence, and unlike in Germany, no legal rights can be derived from the official rule of thumb.

Forecasts and neighbouring gauges

This gauge has one forecast source: the 5-day forecast from Rijkswaterstaat RWsOS (red). Upstream lies Pannerdense kop, downstream Westervoort IJsseldijkerw.

Reference planes

The reference planes at the IJsselkop (IJssel) gauge, evaluated at the gauge's position.

OLR+6.83 m NAP
OLR 2022
Area: Vrij afstromende Rijntakken: Boven-Rijn, Waal, Pannerdensch Kanaal, Nederrijn tot Driel, IJssel
Source: Rijkswaterstaat; RWS OLR 2022 report (open.rijkswaterstaat.nl/@253564); RWS Berekening OLW 2025 (CIV DMC, 5 Feb 2026); 2026-02-05

IJsselkop (IJssel)

The water level at gauge IJsselkop does not scale linearly with the available depth on the IJssel; this is also reflected by the fact that the MGD at average low water indicates a greater depth than calculated with IJsselkop -460. This rule of thumb aligns better at extremely low water, but gauge Doesburg, conversely, gives a better indication of the currently available depth on the IJsselkop–Twenthekanaal reach at any water level. It is therefore better suited to determine maximum draft on the Upper IJssel than gauge IJsselkop. The shallows on the Upper IJssel are mainly in the dry corners (inside bends) that can be navigated around, and not so much in crossings/furrows. Basing a rule of thumb on the MGD is not advisable, though: see the explanation of the Least Sounded Depth, which at low water scales quite differently from the real channel depth.

Rules of thumb per gauge and port ›