The name Waal, in
Roman times called
Vacalis, Vahalis or
Valis, later
Vahal, is of
Germanic origin and is named after the many
meanders in the river (). It is, in turn, thought to have inspired early Dutch
settlers of the
Hudson Valley region in
New York to name the
Wallkill River after it (
Waalkil "Waal
Creek"). The current river shows little signs of these great bends, since it has been the subject of numerous normalisation projects carried out between the 18th and 20th centuries to improve the river as an economically important shipping route. Some of the cut-off bends are still visible near the main river and are sometimes reconnected to it in times of high water levels.
Bend in South Holland In the
Middle Ages, the name "Waal" continued after the confluence with the
Meuse. The delta parts now known as Boven Merwede,
Beneden Merwede and the upper section of the
Noord were also called Waal. Near
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the mainstream continued west until it flowed into
Oude Maas near
Heerjansdam. This last stretch past Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, which separated the
river islands of
IJsselmonde and
Zwijndrechtse Waard, is still called Waal, but is more commonly known as
Waaltje (Dutch for
Little Waal). It has been dammed off at both ends, making the Zwijndrechtse Waard part of IJsselmonde. ==River crossings==