Where does the Rhine River start and where does it end?
Posted on Oct 20, 2025 / Travel
The Rhine kicks off in the Swiss Alps, flowing from two headstreams in Switzerland and then heading northwest through Germany and the Netherlands before finally emptying into the North Sea. It covers roughly 1,230 km (around 765 miles) in length. Along the way it cuts through some beautiful landscapes, historic towns and major industrial zones. It’s not just a pretty river — its course has shaped modern Europe’s map and economy. The fact that it’s been an international waterway since the early 19th century shows how important it’s been for trade and diplomacy. Even today its flows connect multiple countries and cultures in one ribbon of water. It’s wild to think that something starting high in the Alps ends up bridging nations and seas.
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