The Dinkel is a river in Germany and the Netherlands, left tributary of the Vecht. Its total length is 89 km (55 mi), of which 47 km (29 mi) in Germany. The Dinkel originates in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, between Ahaus and Coesfeld. It flows north to Gronau, crosses the border with the Netherlands (Overijssel), flows through Losser, Denekamp, and recrosses the border to Germany (Lower Saxony). The Dinkel joins the Vechte in Neuenhaus.
| Dinkel | |
|---|---|
 The Dinkel near Losser | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Countries | Germany and Netherlands |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| • coordinates | 51°59′12″N 7°07′44″E / 51.98667°N 7.12889°E |
| • elevation | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Vechte |
• coordinates | 52°30′26″N 6°57′47″E / 52.50722°N 6.96306°E |
| Length | 89.0 km (55.3 mi) [1] |
| Basin size | 641 km2 (247 sq mi) [1] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Vechte→ Zwarte Water→ IJsselmeer |
Jacob van Ruisdael depicted the landscape of the Dinkel and its watermills near Denekamp in his work Two Watermills and an Open Sluice near Singraven. These watermills still exist.
In the Netherlands the river gave name to the village of Overdinkel and to the municipality of Dinkelland.
Near Denekamp some of the waters of the Dinkel are used to regulate the levels of the Almelo-Nordhorn canal.
