The Juliana Canal (Dutch spelling: Julianakanaal) is a man-made waterway in the Dutch province of Limburg. The approximately 36 km long canal runs between Limmel near Maastricht and Maasbracht in the municipality of Maasgouw practically parallel to a part of the Meuse that has no longer been navigable since 1822, the so-called Grenzmaas, so it is a so-called side canal.
From Borgharen near Maastricht to just before Maasbracht, the Meuse forms the state border between the Netherlands and Belgium. The Grenzmaas is not navigable. To eliminate this traffic obstacle, the Juliana Canal was built between 1925 and 1935.
In order to cope with the height difference of 23.60 m over the entire route, the canal has three locks in Limmel, Born and Maasbracht. With a drop of 11.85 meters, the lock in Maasbracht is the Dutch lock with the largest height difference to be overcome.
A further, fourth level of locks existed at Roosteren until 1965. Renovations to the locks in Born and Maasbracht as well as a widening of the canal between Born and Maasbracht while simultaneously raising the dikes allowed the lock at Roosteren to be demolished.
The water level of the canal is in some cases considerably higher than the general terrain level of the areas crossed. In Elsloo the canal runs through the old town center and over 40 houses had to give way.