Voies navigables de France (, VNF, ) is the French navigation authority responsible for the management of the majority of France's inland waterways network and the associated facilities—towpaths, commercial and leisure ports, lock-keeper's houses and other structures.
VNF was established in 1991 and took over the responsibility for all waterways from the National Office of Navigation in 1993. It is a public body and is under the control of the Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Development. The headquarters of VNF are in Béthune, Pas-de-Calais with local offices throughout France.
French waterways network
The French natural and man-made waterways network is the largest in Europe[1] extending to over 8500 km of which VNF manages the navigable sections. The assets managed by VNF comprise 6700 km of waterways, made up of 3800 km of canals and 2900 km of navigable rivers, 494 dams, 1595 locks, 74 aqueducts, 65 reservoirs, 35 tunnels and a land area of 800 km2.[2]