Dordotse Kil, also Dortse Kil, is a body of water in South Holland in the Netherlands. It connects the Hollands Diep with the Oude Maas south of Rotterdam and separates the island of Dordrecht from the Hoeksche Waard. The two islands are connected by the Kiltunnel, and a high-speed railway line also passes under the Kiel to the south. Strijensas is located at the mouth of the Dordtsche Kil. At the confluence with the Oude Maas there is a large harbour and the industrial area of De Kil.
The Dordotse Kil is a busy tidal waterway between the Rhine and the Scheldt. It is used for shipping from Rotterdam to Moerdijk and back. The direction and speed of the current changes regularly depending on the tide, the direction and strength of the wind, the state of the water and the outflow from the Rhine and Meuse. When the Rhine and Meuse are deficient, their southern outflow is diverted to the North Sea via the Dordtsche Kil to the north via the Europoort, among other places. The locks of the Haringvlietdam are then closed.
The commercial zone located on the Dordtsche Kil is also called the Dordtse Kil (‚Kil‘). It is divided into Kil I, Kil II and, since 2006, Kil III.
On December 2006, the wreck of the 19th century ship Jacob was found in the Dordtsche Kil. Which is now on display at the Binnenvaartmuseum in Dordrecht.
The Dordotse Kil river crossings
The connection between Hoeksche Waard in the west and Dordrecht in the east is the Kiltunnel toll tunnel.
