Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal

Template: Infobox River / GKZ_fehlt

Course of the Sea Canal Brussels -Scheldt

The Sea Canal Brussels -Scheldt (Dutch Zeekanaal Brussels -Scheldt ) is a canal in Belgium, running from Brussels to the Scheldt. The name Sea Canal Brussels -Scheldt is the official name of the channel after the ship canal Brussels -Rupel was extended in 1997 to the Scheldt. An older, but still widely used name of the channel is Canal de Willebroek.

History

The Canal de Willebroek is one of the oldest navigable canals in Belgium and Europe. The original canal was 20 miles long, up to 30 meters wide and 2 meters deep. He joined the Port of Brussels with Willebroek and led from there to the Rupel. The height difference of 14 meters has been overcome through four locks. The commissioning of the vessels, the Senne and the duty for the passage of Mechelen to Rupel was henceforth spared.

Already in the first half of the fifteenth century, Philip the Good had developed plans for the channeling of the river Senne. However, in 1477 gave Mary of Burgundy the City of Brussels approval for digging a completely new channel Scheldt or the Rupel. Emperor Charles V. renewed this agreement in 1531. The city of Mechelen, which was authorized to levy tariffs for transportation on the Senne, protested against the plans of the city of Brussels and delayed the construction of the canal for a long time. After the dispute with Mechelen and Vilvoorde was settled and the Queen of Hungary had approved the construction, the mayor of Brussels Jean de Locquenghien could make the groundbreaking ceremony on June 16, 1550. On October 11, 1561 the work was completed on the canal. The cost of construction should have amounted to 800 000 guilders.

In the heart of Brussels, on Place Sainte -Catherine, it was soon after the opening of the canal several yards. These were closed in the late 19th century, but today are still evident in a number of street names. The course of the canal in Brussels changed after the opening of the canal Charleroi - Brussels in 1832. Through the combination of the two channels was a direct link between the port of Antwerp and the industry around Charleroi. The Company NV Zeekanaal s Watergebonden Grond Beheer Vlaanderen, founded in 1896 resulted in 1900 extensive modernization by the canal through the mouth of the Rupel moved to the new lock Wintam and the two locks of Vilvoorde and Humbeek through the lock of Kapelle-op - den-Bos were replaced. In 1922 the opening of the modernized channel for navigation was.

1965 began a further modernization of the canal with a groove and building up to a width of 55 m (25 m for the locks). Due to the large new locks (205 mx 25 m) Zemst (opened in 1975 ) and Wintam ( opened in 1997 ) was also lower the number of locks on two and there was a direct connection to the Scheldt. The Port of Brussels is now accessible for seagoing vessels up to 4500 tonnes and inland waterway vessels ( pushing units to 9000 tons). In Willebroek and the port of Brussels emerged in recent container terminals for connection to the road.

Economic Importance

The channel has a great importance for the capital, Brussels, especially in the supply of crude oil, which accounts for about 30% of the total traffic. In 1974, the annual transport reached a climax with 14.4 million tons. After a decrease of recovery is felt again in recent years. With a transport volume of the channel of 7.7 million tons is the Port of Brussels to the Liege 's second largest inland port in the country.

After the regionalization of the management of the channel is now no longer in the hands of the NV- Zeekanaal, but was transferred to the area of Brussels at the port of Brussels and the Flemish part of the society Waterways and Sea Canal NV.

Pictures of Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal

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