Inauguration of Antwerp’s Kieldrecht Lock: 3 Days Left

Business & Finance

June 7, 2016

His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium will visit the Port of Antwerp on June 10 to officially open the Kieldrecht lock, the largest in the world.

Construction of the Kieldrecht lock was necessary in order to ensure better access to the port area on the left bank of the Scheldt, as the existing Kallo lock had reached its limits.

The new lock will also benefit companies in this part of the port as well as providing security of operation, as each lock can act as a backup for the other.

The return on this investment will take the form of greater maritime, industrial and logistical activity in the port of Antwerp.

Construction of the Kieldrecht lock is one of the largest Flemish infrastructure projects of the past few years.

The exhibition will show the progress of this imposing structure and the many milestones along the way.

Facts & Figures

Location: at the end of the Deurganck dock on the Left bank of the Scheldt and with a maritime connection between the Scheldt and the Waasland canal;
Via this lock ships have access to all the other docks on the Left bank: Doel dock, Verrebroek dock, Vrasene dock and the Northern and Southern Mooring docks;
Largest lock in the world;
500 meters long, 68 meters wide and 17.8 meters deep (below the local datum point);
22,000 tonnes of steel (three times as much as the Eiffel tower);
Construction start date: 21 November 2011;
Construction work uncovers the skeleton of a 3.5 million year old whale: December 2013;
Open to the general public to walk around: 7 and 8 March 2015;
The artist Cazn works in the lock for 10 weeks on a wall painting 300 meters wide and 9 meters high: end of April 2015;
It takes seven days to fill the lock with water: April 2015;
The name “Kieldrecht lock” chosen by the public: 15 January 2016.