Lock and quays
This weekend the Port of Antwerp will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the “Freedom of the Scheldt” treaty, which opened up the river to international shipping again after being blocked since the 16th century. It’s Antwerp’s angle to Vlaamse Havendag, or Flemish Port Day, which offers a unique opportunity to pay a visit to the city’s Deurganck lock but also explore all the region’s ports.
Antwerp celebrates the Freedom treaty as Flanders’ ports invite visitors to explore
On Saturday, 21 September, the treaty will be celebrated with a huge maritime parade. Some 150 vessels will make their way down the river in front of the city centre. One of the participating vessels is the Brabo floating crane, which will be carrying a container with Antverpia, the personification of the city, on board.
The grand finale will be staged at the Bonaparte dock, near the MAS museum, with a massive sound and light display. The Kattendijk dock is the place to visit historical ships and the exhibition Nooit meer dicht (No Longer Closed) on the historical perspective of the opening of the Scheldt.
The Deurganck lock, meanwhile, will be open to the public for the very first time. Measuring 500 x 68 metres, this masterpiece of maritime infrastructure is the biggest lock in the world. “During a two-hour guided visit, experts will talk about the construction of the lock,” says Annik Dirkx, spokesperson of the Antwerp Port Authority.
In addition, two port terminal operators on the Deurganck dock will open up their gates: The international port operator PSA and Dubai Port World “will offer a wide range of activities and display new technology,” continues Dirkx. “Visitors will be able to witness the loading and unloading of the ships and get to see DP World’s automatic stacking cranes.”
The Antwerp leg of the event also includes a behind-the-scenes exhibition at the Lillo port centre and a guided tour of the Groot Rietveld, the biggest reed bed in Flanders.
Dirkx advises visitors to use the free transport to get between sites. Shuttle buses go between the MAS Museum, Lillo and the Deurganck site, while on the left bank, buses leave from Ter Vesten cultural centre in Beveren.
This is the third edition of Flemish Port Day, organised by Flanders Port Area. At the ports of Zeebrugge, Ostend, Ghent and Antwerp, visitors can learn about the ports’ activities and the people who work there.
22 September
Antwerp, Ghent, Zeebrugge & Ostend
Port of Antwerp
barges entering the port daily
companies in the greater port area
tonnes of freight handled in 2012
- Port of Antwerp
- City of Antwerp
- Flemish Port Commission
