Ghent–Terneuzen Canal

The Zeekanaal Ghent -Terneuzen also Kanaal van Gent naar Terneuzen called, connects the port in the Belgian city of Ghent - the capital of the province of East Flanders - the Dutch Westerschelde estuary and thus with the North Sea. The canal crosses next to Ghent in Belgium and the municipalities Zelzate Terneuzen in the Netherlands.

For the economy of the port city of Ghent, with the third largest port in Belgium, the channel is of great importance.

History

In 1823, the Dutch King William I decided to extend the Saasevaart up to Terneuzen. It ran from Ghent to Sas van Gent, especially in the old bed of the Sasse Vaart. From Sas van Gent to Terneuzen canal ran through the alluvium, which was only rarely flooded ( De Braeckmaninham, Sassegat and Axelse Gat ). In Terneuzen two locks were built, one with eight meters wide, the second was twelve feet wide.

1827 the channel by Pieter van Doorn, Governor of East Flanders was opened in the name of the king. Until Sas van Gent, the channel was 4.5 m to 2.5 m deep Gent. The sole width was ten meters, at the height of the water level it was 24 m wide. At the channel opening bread was distributed to the poor, and there were commemorative medals struck in gold, silver and bronze.

Between 1830 and 1841 was due to the independence of Belgium no boat trip from Terneuzen to Ghent instead. At the height of the Belgian General Zelzate Niellon had piles rammed into the channel, so that the Dutch could no longer drive to Ghent. It was not until 1841, after the channel was silted dredged again, went there again ships.

As of 1870, the canal was deepened and widened, obstructive curves were straightened and Zelzate the channel was routed through a new side arm. On Belgian territory several bridges were built. 1881, the work was completed there. In the Netherlands, the channel was deepened and widened in 1881, in Sas van Gent, a third branch duct was dug and built a new lock. 1885, the channel was 6.5 m deep, at the bottom 17 m and 68 m wide at the surface.

In a treaty between the Netherlands and Belgium the further expansion of the channel was decided on 20 June 1960. Part of the village Sluiskil had to give way to the channel. In 1963, two new locks in Terneuzen built, one for the barges, the second for seagoing vessels. The old lock of Sas van Gent was filled, there the driveway for a new bridge has been created. On 19 December 1968, the new channel by Queen Juliana (Netherlands) and King Baudouin I was inaugurated.

Today

The Ghent-Terneuzen canal today is 200 meters wide and 32 km long. Vessels up to 125,000 tons can ride him. The maximum permissible dimensions are: 265 × 34 × 12.5 meters.

Currently, it is planned to allow access for larger vessels is secured to renew the congested locks in Terneuzen Netherlands. The expected construction costs of the new 427 -meter long, 55 meter wide and 16 meter deep lock at around 930 million euros will be also supported by the Belgian side ( 788.1 million euros ) from the state of Flanders and the city of Ghent, possibly with the support of EU. It is expected construction to begin in 2017.