Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal
Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal | |
---|---|
Specifications | |
Length | 28 km (17 mi) |
History | |
Construction began | 1550 |
Date completed | 1561 |
Geography | |
Start point | Brussels, Belgium |
End point | Scheldt river, Belgium |
The Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal (French: Canal maritime de Bruxelles à l'Escaut, Dutch: Zeekanaal Brussel-Schelde), also known as the Willebroek Canal amongst other similar names, is an important canal in Belgium. The 28-kilometre-long (17 mi) canal has a width of 30 metres (98 ft) and a draught of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in), and connects Brussels with the Scheldt river at Wintam and ultimately the sea.
The canal is one of the oldest navigable canals in Belgium and indeed in Europe. It was originally only 20 kilometres (12 mi) long and joined the Rupel river in the hamlet of Klein-Willebroek. Hence previously the canal was officially known as the Brussels–Rupel Maritime Canal (French: Canal maritime Bruxelles-Rupel, Dutch: Zeekanaal Brussel-Rupel) prior to the establishment of a direct link with the Scheldt in 1997.
History
Early history
The idea of a waterway to serve the cities of
During the 16th century, the prospect of a canal was renewed. In 1531,
19th century–present
Over the years, several end canals, whose docks were each reserved for one type of goods, were built in the old Port of Brussels, in the Sainte-Catherine/Sint Katelijne neighbourhood, at the heart of the City of Brussels. These basins were filled in the late 19th century, at the opening of Brussels' new port located outside the Pentagon (city centre). The street names along the former docks, however, still retain in their names the memory of their former function or references to the neighbourhood's commercial activities. The course of the canal in Brussels was amended to connect to the Brussels–Charleroi Canal, which opened in 1832, thus creating a direct link between the Port of Antwerp and the industrial area of Charleroi (Wallonia).
During the 1920 Summer Olympics, the canal hosted the rowing events. In 1922, a fully modernised canal was opened to navigation. Now the canal in the Rupel led by a new lock at Wintam. The locks at Vilvoorde and Humbeek were replaced by the Kapelle-op-den-Bos lock. A new upgrade was initiated in 1965, the canal being widened to 55 metres (180 ft) (25 metres (82 ft) for the locks) and the draught adapted. The construction of two new locks (205 by 25 metres (673 by 82 ft)) at Zemst (opened in 1975) and Wintam (opened in 1997) allowed the canal to lead directly into the Scheldt. The Port of Brussels is now accessible to ships of 4,500 tonnes (9,900,000 lb) and pushed convoys of 9,000 tonnes (20,000,000 lb).
The canal is of paramount importance for the supply of oil to Brussels, which typically represents 30–50% of annual traffic. In 1974, the annual traffic rose to 14 million tonnes. After a relapse, the volume transported has been rising again in recent years. With 7 million tonnes carried by the canal, the Port of Brussels is the second inland port in the country after the Port of Liège.
Following the
In popular culture
Wannes Van de Velde recorded a song about one of the bridges in Willebroek named De Brug van Willebroek.
References
- This article was largely translated from the French wikipedia article, version 11 May 2008
- Sports-reference.com 1920 Summer Olympics rowing website.
- Karel Roose (25 October 2005). "Willebroek Canal". Dan Gamber. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 20 June 2008.