Cruising the Canals & Rivers of Europe. Waterways of Belgium. Gent-Oostende Kanaal at Brugge

Transcription

1 EuroCanals Cruising the Canals & Rivers of Europe Waterways of Belgium Gent-Oostende Kanaal at Brugge

2 Table of Contents 4 Waterways of Belgium 5 Vlaanderen (Flanders) 6 Wallonie (Wallonia) 7 Waterway Permits and Fees 8 Classification of waterways 12 Place Names 14 Index map of Belgium 15 Waterway dimensions 17 Portals connecting Belgium with Netherlands and France 18 Through Routes 19 Less Traveled Routes 20 Fields of Flanders map 21 Kanaal Nieuwpoort-Duinkerke log 22 Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort log 23 Lokanaal log 24 IJzer river log 25 Kanaal Ieper-IJzer log 28 Brugge-Gent-Kortrijk map 29 Kanaal Gent-Oostende log 32 Leie river map 34 Leie river log 35 Best Cities to Visit: Brugge 36 Brugge map 39 Best Cities to Visit: Gent 40 Gent map 42 Gent city map 43 Gent city, Leie river log 44 Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen log 45 Central Belgium map 46 Best Cities to Visit: Antwerpen 48 Best Cities to Visit: Brussel 49 Kortrijk map 50 Leie river log 52 Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes log 54 Canal du Centre log 56 Historic Canal du Centre log 57 Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi log 59 Sambre river log 62 Meuse-Ardennes map 64 Meuse river map 65 Meuse river log 70 Liège - Maastricht map 79 The Boatlifts 80 Strepy-Thieu boatlift 85 Canal du Centre boatlifts 87 Ronquières plan incliné 91 Cruising Guide & Charts 92 Self-skippered Rental Boat Operators

3 EuroCanals Cruising the Canals & Rivers of Europe Waterways of Belgium EuroCanals Guide: Waterways of Belgium was first published in January This third edition (2011) has been updated and expanded. The guide is intended to provide information for travelers by barge, canal cruiser, bicycle, on foot or even as car or rail tourists. It not only shows Where You Can Go but also why you might want to go there. More information is available from the EuroCanals website: Published August 2011 by EuroCanals Publishing, 369 Montezuma St., Suite 154, Santa Fe NM USA All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or used in any form without the prior permission of the publisher, except for personal use by the purchaser. The purchaser is licensed to install copies of this document on any computer owned or used by the purchaser and to burn additional copies on CD/DVD for their own use only; not to be distributed to other persons. Copyright Tom Sommers 2003, 2009, 2011 Updated November Photos by the author and courtesy Don & Cathy Jo Chesnut, Odysseus

4 Waterways of Belgium The old image of Belgium: Belgium is that small and not very pleasant place one must pass through between the more desirable cruising areas in France and the source of many vessels and conversion work, the Netherlands. The new image of Belgium: We had a great time in Belgium this past summer and want to encourage other bargees to spend some time there. There are some really beautiful peaceful canals, especially in the north, that people really should enjoy. Also, the portion of the Meuse we travelled, from Namur to France, is well worth the praise it gets. Belgium is currently a very good place to cruise; there is a big push on at present to encourage tourism by boat, thus there are many good `marinas' or municipal moorings being set up. However there are not that many boats resident, therefore you will find it a lot less crowded than Northern Holland in the summer, for instance. The major waterways often serve industrial areas, thus they are busy with commercial barges and sometimes pass through unpleasant environments. But the smaller, short-cut or dead-end canals and rivers shouldn t be overlooked. This guide has been written to help those boaters that are just passing through but also to encourage pleasure cruising in Belgium, to find and enjoy a country that is rich in history, art, excellent museums, fine restaurants and friendly people in cosy, welcoming local bars. Some live-aboard bargees have found that this is a great country in which to moor for extended periods; don t worry about the commercial traffic and less-pleasant areas, just find the spots that you enjoy! Belgium is divided into two regions of language: French is used in Wallonie (Wallonia), on the southern and eastern side, while Dutch is used in Vlaanderen (Flanders), in the north and west. This separation also applies to culture, government and the administration of the waterways. A network of canals spreads throughout the country, with the only exception being the area in the mountains of the southeast bordering Germany and Luxembourg. Some of the original canals have not been maintained and are no longer in service, but 1,578 kilometers of waterways are currently active. Although a few canals are dead-end, they are all connected in a single network that can be accessed by any cruising vessel. Lock dimensions vary substantially, but the minimum size is no smaller than the Freycinet standard common in France; the minimum dimensions found anywhere in Belgium are Draft 1.80* meters, Height 3.60 m, Beam 5.08 m. *one exception: Moervaart draft = 1.20 m.

5 Vlaanderen (Flanders) is Low Country, so there is an abundance of waterways and a relatively small number of locks. The 33 waterways in Flanders require only 102 locks; eight of those waterways have no locks at all. There is a great deal of flat countryside; bicycle routes and dedicated pathways are prevalent all over. Canal towpaths and wooded trails can be found near almost every waterway. Language is not much of a problem; most people speak Flemish but are often keen to use their English. Information regarding fees and regulations in Vlaanderen can be found at: IJzer river near Fintele

6 Wallonie (Wallonia) is hilly country but even so there are fewer locks than on many of the popular canals in France. The three rivers and six canals include a total of only 50 locks. The language is French, they are fiercely proud of this and thus somewhat more reluctant to use English if you speak even a little French, it can help a great deal. Reading French is especially helpful on the very useful website which offers a full range of waterway information, along with daily updates of the status of the waterways at: Sections of particular interest while traveling include: Avis à la batellerie (notices to bargees; you can subscribe for notices) Download the pdf document LA NAVIGATION DE PLAISANCE EN RÉGION WALLONNE Information regarding regulations: Meuse river near Dinant

7 Waterway Permits and Fees Each of the provinces of Belgium, Vlaanderen (Flanders) and Wallonie (Wallonia), have their own regulations and costs; see the border line on the map of Belgium. Brussels is a separate province, however a permit from either province is honored. Skipper's License: Residents of Belgium must obtain a boating license. Visitors from other countries should carry a license obtained from their home waterway authority, or the ICC (International Certificate of Competence.) Licenses obtained by foreign visitors in France or the Netherlands will be honored. Information regarding pleasure cruising in Vlaanderen is available (in English, with some documents in Dutch only) at: Permit for the boat: a cruising permit for all boats over 6 meters overall length must be purchased and displayed on the port side of the boat. An annual permit for boats 6 to 12 m costs 75; for boats over 12 m and speedboats the permit costs 125. Permits may be purchased at half of the above cost for short periods. See the webpage below for full details, including points of purchase. Information regarding pleasure cruising in Wallonie is available (in French only) at: On that page you can download an 80-page PDF document with very complete information (in French only) at the line: La brochure gratuite à télécharger "La Navigation de plaisance en Région wallonne" regroupe les informations les plus utiles concernant les activités de loisirs sur l'eau. Permit for the boat: a cruising permit with an identification number, called the MET, must be obtained at the first lock when entering Wallonie, and then presented upon demand at all other locks or ports. You must state your furthest point of destination in Wallonie. There is no charge for the permit, nor for the use of the locks throughout Wallonie.

8 Classification of waterways: The canals and rivers of Belgium are shown on this map, classified by the size of barges permitted. Klasse I waterways are equivalent to the French Freycinet waterways, suitable for the French peniche or Belgian spits, the waterways cruised most commonly by pleasure boats and converted barges. Beneden- - - CI. De L Espierres CI Nimy Blaton Péronnes CI. Du Centre LUXEMBOURG april Verbod door te varen Courtesy of

9 The San Remo is one of the very large barges which travel the Klasse IV, V &VI waterways of Belgium; it fills the width of a 12m lock and fits gate-to-gate in the 89.5m length of the Nieuwe Dammepoort lock in Brugge. But that doesn t prevent pleasure boats from using the locks and canals at the same time; the Nieuwe Dammepoort lock is D-shaped, this barge has been seen in that lock with both a private converted barge and a 14-meter motoryacht alongside. Barges do have priority in the locks, boaters must carefully follow the instructions of lockkeepers. But there are also plenty of peaceful, natural rivers and canals in Belgium where the larges barges don t go, such as the river IJzer shown below. Pontoon docks near bridges and locks, as well as at towns, offer little in the way of facilities but a lot in the way of a pleasant place to spend the night.

10 Sometimes the best way to travel along the waterways is to leave the boat tied-up at a pontoon and head off on foot or bicycle, enjoying the forests and the fields on the flat, smooth towpath or side roads.

11 Locks range from the huge Wintam lock at left to Sluis Versel below. Nieuwe zeesluis Wintam: connects Zeekanal Brussel-Schelde to Zeeschelde 250m X 25m, rise/fall varies with tide Sluis Versel: connects Albertkanaal to Netekanaal 81.6m X 10.5m, rise/fall 5.0m

12 A Note Concerning Place Names Belgium is a country of more than one language and is bounded by other countries that often have their own version of the name for a place or waterway. This makes it confusing to prepare maps and documents, so I have elected to show (with some exceptions) the name used locally in that part of Belgium. Following are some of the names in each language. Dutch (Flemish) French (Wallonne) English Country: België Belgique Belgium Province: Vlaanderen Flandre Flanders Wallonië Wallonne/Wallonie Wallonia Cities: Antwerpen Anvers Antwerp Bergen Mons Mons or Bergen Brussel Bruxelles Brussels Brugge Bruges Bruges Doornik Tournai Tournai Duinkerken Dunkerque Dunkirk Gent Gand Ghent Ieper Ypres Ypres Luik Liége Liege Kortrijk Courtrai Kortrijk Namen Namur Namur Nieuwpoort Nieuport Newport Oostende Ostende Ostend Roeselare Roulers Roeselare Rivers: Boven-Schelde Haut Escaut Upper Escaut Boven-Zeeschelde Escaut Maritime Supérieur Upper Escaut Maritime Beneden-Zeeschelde Escaut Maritime Inférieur Lower Escaut Maritime Grensleie Lys mitoyenne Middle Lys Ijzer Yser Ijzer Leie Lys Leie/Lys Maas Meuse Maas/Meuse Samber Sambre Sambre Schelde Escaut Schelde/Scheldt

13 Waterway Maps & Dimensions On the following pages are a map and dimensional details of the waterways of Belgium; use the index numbers to locate a canal or river of interest. Don t forget to use the tools provided in Adobe Reader to enlarge the page for easy viewing. Scenic & Pleasure Ratings Plus-marks following the waterway name indicate ratings: + Pleasant, some picturesque sections ++ Pleasant, picturesque, a recommended cruise section +++ Pleasant, very picturesque, as must-do cruise section none A transit waterway Navigation Ratings NAV column indicates the relative difficulty of navigation: A Easiest; little or no commercial traffic, slow currents B Some sections have intense traffic, strong current and/or shallow places C Heavy commercial traffic, strong currents; experience required Draft & Height Many of these waterways are rivers; some are tidal. The volume of water will vary substantially depending on the season and climatic conditions, causing large variations in water depth and bridge clearances. Great care should be taken in planning and executing a trip. Contact local authorities and gather information from lock-keepers, other boaters and commercial barge captains. Lock Size The length and width of locks may vary along the waterway. Lock Size shown is the minimum length and minimum width, not necessarily on the same lock. These dimensions, along with Draft & Height, are the limiting factors which may restrict the use of that waterway by a specific vessel. Marinas In Vlaanderen province marinas are named jachthaven ; in Wallonie province they are port de plaisance. They are marked on the map by blue dots. There are also many moorings available, without services, in towns and rural areas. Portals Waterways connecting into the Netherlands and France are indicated as A through J These connections are described on the page Portals into Belgium, following the map and waterway details.

14 BELGIUM 17 FRANCE NETHERLANDS GERMANYLUXEM- BOURG Brussel Antwerpen Gent Brugge Oostende Nieuwpoort Kortrijk Tournai Mons Dinant Namur Charleroi Liège Vlaanderen Wallonie (Flanders) (Wallonia) Bocholt Turnhout Dessel Schoten Leuven Huy Terneuzen Roeselare Ieper Zeebrugge Ath Deinze Smeermaas (BE) Maastricht Blaton Geraardsbergen Dendermonde Hasselt Kwaadmechelen Herentals Genk Leopoldsburg Bossuit Seneffe Halle Ronquières inclined plane Durme Strépy-Thieu boatlift Mechelen Zelzate Nimy Menen Deûlémont Eeklo Balgerhoeke Veurne Diksmuide Givet (FR) Waulsort Lokeren Péronnes Pommeroeul Oudenburg Ooigem Rumst Schelle Zandvliet Oudenaarde Westerschelde Bergenop-Zoom Tholen Helmond Maasbracht Dunkerque Lys Scarpe Escaut Sambre Meuse Lier Temse Lommel Lo 1 2 3a a 6b a 10b 11 13a 13 34b 34a 33a 33b a 18b 17a 19 20a 20b J I H G F E D C B A 30a 18a 18c 20a 4b 34b 34a 1a a 3 34c 4a 4c 4 2 Canals Rivers Disused Canals/Rivers EuroCanals Waterway Index Locks Marinas (jachthaven, port de plaisance) km Oosterschelde 1,2,3 etc

15 WATERWAY Index# FROM TO LENGTH LOCKS LOCK SIZE DRAFT HEIGHT NAV Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen 1 Gent Zelzate (NL border) 17.1 km m 51 m C Moervaart +++ 1a Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen Lokeren A Boven-Zeeschelde (tidal) 2 Gent Antwerp C Beneden-Zeeschelde (tidal) 3 Antwerp Westerschelde open C Schelde-Rijnverbinding (NL canal) 3a Antwerp Zandvliet (NL border) C Albertkanaal/Canal Albert + 4 Antwerp Liège (Ile de Monsin) X C Canal de Monsin 4a Canal Albert Basse Meuse X B Haccourt-Visé canal 4b Haccourt Visé X A Canal de Lanaye 4c Canal Albert Basse Meuse X B Rupel river (tidal) 5 Schelle Rumst C Beneden-Nete river (tidal) 6a Rumst Duffel C Netekanaal + 6b Duffel Albertkanaal X A Kanaal van Dessel over Turnhout 7 Schoten Dessel X A naar Schoten ++ K. van Bocholt naar Herentals ++ 8 Herentals Bocholt X A Kanaal Dessel-Kwaadmechelen++ 9 Dessel Kwaadmechelen A Zuidwillemsvaart 10a Lozen Bocholt X A Zuidwillemsvaart ++ 10b Bocholt Smeermaas A Kanaal Briegden-Neerharen 11 Lanaken Neerharen X A Kanaal naar Beverlo K. Bocholt-Herentals Leopoldsburg A Kanaal Leuven-Dijle Dijle river Leuven X A Dijle river (tidal) 13a Rumst Mechelen X C Zeekanaal Brussel-Schelde 14 Brussels Hingene X C Dender river Dendermonde Geraardsbergen X A Haut Escaut river Bléharies (FR border) Bossuit X A Boven Schelde river ++ 16a Bossuit Gent X A Kanaal Bossuit-Kortrijk Bossuit Kortrijk X A

16 WATERWAY Index# FROM TO LENGTH LOCKS LOCK SIZE DRAFT HEIGHT NAV Canal de l Espierres 17a Haut Escaut river Canal de Roubaix (FR) X A Leie ++ 18a Gent Deinze C Leie b Deinze Menen (FR border) X A Grensleie/Lys mitoyenne c Menen Deûlémont FR X A Kanaal Roeselare-Leie Ooigem Roeselare X B Afleidingskanaal van de Leie ++ 20a Deinze Balgerhoeke X A Kanaal van Eeklo 20b Afleidingskanaal v de Leie Eeklo A Boudewijnkanaal 21 Brugge Zeebrugge X A Kanaal Gent-Oostende Gent Oostende X A Kanaal Plassendaele-Nieuwpoort 23 Kanaal Gent-Oostende Nieuwpoort X A Kanaal Nieuwpoort-Duinkerken 24 Nieuwpoort French border X A Ijzer river Nieuwpoort Lokanaal X A Lokanaal Veurne Ijser river X A Kanaal Ieper - Ijzer 27 Ijser river Ieper X A Kanaal Blaton-Ath Blaton Ath X A Kanaal Charleroi-Brussel + 29 Charleroi Brussel X B Centrumkanaal/Canal du Centre (new waterway) +++ Centrumkanaal/Canal du Centre (historic waterway) Seneffe Nimy X A 30a La Louvière Thieu X A Kanaal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes 31 Nimy Péronnes X A Kanaal Pommeroeul-Condé 32 Pommeroeul French border X A Basse Sambre river 33a Namur Monceau (Charleroi) X B Haute Sambre river b Monceau (Charleroi) Erquelinnes (FR border) X A Haute Meuse river a Hastière (FR border) Namur X B Meuse Moyenne river 34b Namur Liège (Ile de Monsin) X B Basse Meuse river ++ 34c Liège (Ile de Monsin) Barrage Lixhe A

17 Portals connecting Belgium with the Netherlands: A B C D Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen provides a route north from Gent, allowing traffic to bypass Antwerp. It can be considered for passage between Holland and the coastal ports of Belgium across the relatively open waters of Zeeland, where caution is advised. Schelde Rijnverbinding is a Netherlands canal, an inland waterway between Holland and Antwerp via a sheltered bay at the eastern end of the Oosterschelde. Ports are available at Tholen or Bergen-op-Zoom NL. The waterway connects directly into the commercial docks of Antwerp and the pleasure-bat harbor in the center of the city. Zuidwillemsvaart is a canal route at the northeast of Belgium, an alternate to the traffic and current of the Maas river. It is a useful connector through the cities of Helmond and S-Hertgenbosch into central Holland. Maas river is a frequently traveled route from anywhere in the Netherlands into Belgium and on south to France. It is known as the Meuse river in Belgium and France. It also connects with western Belgium via the Albertkanaal. Portals connecting Belgium with France: E F G H I J Meuse river flows north from France through the Wallonie province, becoming the Maas in the Netherlands at Maastricht. It is a major route to the Champagne region and then Paris, or to the entire eastern, central and southern waterway network of France. Sambre river is a quiet and very pleasant route from Brussels or eastern Belgium into France. Unfortunately it has been a dead end since the closure of the Vadencourt canal bridge in Escaut river connects Gent and western Belgium waterways to northern France; passage can continue along the river Oise to the Seine and Paris. Scarpe river is a shortcut connector between the major French waterway route known as Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut (or Liaison au Grand Gabarit) the central Belgium waterways to Gent or Brussels. Lys river (Leie in Belgium) is a beautiful and very pleasant route from the Liaison Dunkerque-Escaut to Gent. Canal de Furnes follows the coast from Dunkirk into Belgium, a useful route after crossing the Channel from England.

18 Through Routes: North/South between France & The Netherlands Somewhat surprisingly, there are only four inland-waterway connections along the entire Belgium/Netherlands border; Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen & Schelde Rijnverbinding in central Belgium and Zuidwillemsvaart & Maas river on the east. Near the North Sea, in the province of Zeeland NL, vessels suitable for the open waters of the Ooster- and Wester-Schelde can arrive at the port of Terneuzen and travel south, along with large commercial ships, on the industrial Kanaal Gent- Terneuzen to the port of Gent. From there, the binnenvaart (inland waterways) network of Belgium can be used to travel west to English Channel ports or coastal France, south to French canals leading to Paris and the rest of France, or east to Antwerpen and Brussel. A more protected route through Zeeland is the Schelde Rijnverbinding, binding the mouth of the Rhine and the area around Dordrecht and Rotterdam to the Schelde river at Antwerpen. The Schelde route continues west to Gent. Southbound traffic can pass due south through Brussel and on into France. Probably the most popular route for waterway travel between these two countries is at the eastern side of the Belgian network, along the Maas/Meuse river. From Nijmegen, in southeastern NL, southbound cruisers most commonly travel up the Maas and the Julianakanaal to the city of Maastricht and enter Belgium near Liège. From central NL, the Zuid- Willemsvaart can be used from s Hertgenbosch to Maastricht (or as an optional bypass of the Maas/Julianakanaal, especially if the river flow is strong.) Following the Meuse upstream will bring you directly into France in the Champagne- Ardenne region, or you can stay in Belgium and cross to the west from Namur past Charleroi and enter France on either the Sambre or Escaut rivers. Through Routes: East into Germany: There are no connecting routes directly into Germany or Luxembourg. Access to Germany is available from Nijmegen, NL on the Waal (Rhine) river or other canals further north. From France, access is available from Nancy on the Moselle/Mosel river or from Strasbourg & Mulhouse on the Rhine. Through Routes: East/West: Traveling across Belgium is via the Albertkanaal in the north and the Canal du Centre/Meuse in the south. It is not often done, except to connect into the Netherlands on the Maas or to do a circular cruise of Belgium. In the latter case, the northern option may be attractive, leaving the commercial traffic on the purpose-built Albertkanaal while visiting a few small towns along the more rural, slower Zuidwillemsvaart/Kanaal Bocholt-Herentals/Kanaal Dessel-Turnhout-Schoten.

19 Less Traveled Routes: There are several short-cut or dead-end canals and rivers in Belgium that offer a peaceful, often very beautiful cruise away from commercial barge traffic. Wildlife sightings are common along these waterways and they are often a good place for bicycling or hiking. Beneden Nete & Netekanaal (#6b & 6a on the map) The Beneden Nete (Lower Nete) is a tidal river, a tributary of the Rupel and Zeeschelde. Above the town of Duffel the river becomes non-navigable and in the 1950s-60s the upper end was replaced by the Netekanaal, connecting to the Albertkanaal. This provides a bypass of Antwerpen for traffic between the Albertkanaal and Gent or Brussel. A stop at the town of Lier, near the junction of river and canal, is recommended. Afleidingskanaal van de Leie (Leie Diversion Canal, #20a on the map) is useful as a bypass of Gent from the river Leie west to the Kanaal Gent-Oostende. But it also continues north for another 13.4 km toward Zeebrugge before it stops at a section no longer in service. Near this point is the side canal Kanaal van Eeklo (#20b on the map), a short connector into the city of Eeklo. There are no moorings available on the Leie Diversion Canal but there is a port at Eeklo. Kanaal Roeselare-Leie (#19 on the map) heads west from the river Leie for 15.4 km to an end at the city of Roeselare. Kanaal Leuven-Dijle (#12 on the map) reaches southeast from Rumst, past the city of Mechelen for 31.4 km to the city of Leuven. The adjacent river Dijle (#13 on the map) is navigable for 6.5 km through Mechelen. Kanaal naar Beverlo (#11 on the map) doesn t quite get to Beverlo; it turns south near Dessel and ends at Leopoldsburg, 15 km later. With the exception of an industrial area at about 4 km, the banks are lined with trees and flowers. The canal and the town of Leopoldsburg are popular with bikers and hikers as well as pleasure boaters. Lokanaal and Ijzer (#25-26 on the map) offer a loop cruise of 45.3 km and 2 locks, including the towns of Veurne, Nieuwpoort, Diksmuide and Lo. A side canal, Kanaal Ieper-Ijzer (#27 on the map) leads another 15.2 km to a dead-end at the city of Ieper (Ypres). Kanaal Bossuit-Kortrijk (#17 on the map) is a 15 km connector between the Boven-Schelde and the Leie; the junction with the Leie is at the city of Kortrijk. This is a pleasant canal in its own right and makes possible a loop of three days cruising between Gent and the towns of Oudenaarde and Kortrijk, traveling the Schelde and Leie rivers. Dender river (#15 on the map) connects through past the town of Ath to join the Blaton-Ath canal (#28 on the map) but traffic is limited to vessels with draft less than 1 meter; this section is essentially unused. However, a cruise from Dendermonde to Geraardsbergen on the meandering Dender is highly recommended. There is a variety of vegetation lining the banks and in the fields beyond, along with many ducks and herons for company.

20 Fields of Flanders There are three ports equally spaced along the English Channel coastline of Belgium: Zeebrugge, Oostende and Nieuwpoort. All of these are a longer sea-crossing from England than to Calais or Dunkerque, so most vessels crossing the channel will arrive at one of the French ports and then travel north on the canals which parallel the coast. (These ports are not shown in detail in this inland-waterways guide, refer to Channel pilot books.) Plassendale Leffinge Nieuwpoort Oostende Snaaskerke Oudenburg Zeebrugge Brugge Dunkerque Adinkerke In dry years the Ieper-Ijzer Canal can be very shallow; it may be best to tie up the boat at Fintele or at the Knokkebrug bridge and travel to the town of Ieper by dinghy, kayak or bicycle. Fortem Veurne Wulpen De Dodengang Lo Fintele Westvleteren Poperinge Knokkebrug A trip on IJzer loop is almost entirely rural, with small-town stops at the picturesque and historic towns of Veurne and Ieper (and by bicycle across the flat fields to towns like Poperinge and Westvleteren.) Diksmuide De Boot/Isera Boezinge Ieper Kanaal Nieuwpoort-Duinkerken Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Kanaal Gent-Oostende Boudewijnkanaal Lokanaal IJzer river Kanaal Ieper-IJzer Locks Moorings km

21 Kanaal Nieuwpoort-Duinkerke, Belgium locks moorings Connects the Ganzepoot canal intersection at Nieuwpoort to the French border. Speed limit 7 km/hour, 4 opening bridges. R/L label does not follow the normal river right bank/left bank convention, as tidal waters make the flow direction unclear; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling from Nieuwpoort to Dunkirk. KM approx L L R L 18.8 Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Ganzepoot, Nieuwpoort lock/liftbridge Veurnesluis varies, 45m X 8.5m VHF20 tel tidal Lockkeeper will open lift-bridge railway bridge abandoned by railway, now a footbridge Pelikaanbrug Height >4.5m N355 autoroute Height > 4.5m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway site War Monument for the Belgian 4th Army Division, World War I lift bridge Wulpen new bridge, height unknown mooring/town Wulpen Free mooring both banks, no facilities shops nearby on south side N330 Height > 4.5m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway foot bridge Height >4.5m lift railway bridge low clearance; bridge must open for passage, use phone box at waiting quay for rail office or call Veurne lockkeeper VHF20 tel lift bridge Nieuwpoortbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call Veurne lockkeeper VHF20 tel foot bridge Height >4.5m junction Lokanaal Contact Veurne lockkeeper if traveling onto the Lokanaal. lock (open) Nieuwpoortsluis 90m X 6.35m VHF20 tel Lockkeeper operates all bridges (except rail) and the port below. port/town Veurne Free mooring (24 hours) E/W/T/S shops nearby lift bridge Ieperbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call Veurne lockkeeper VHF20 tel Duinkerkebrug Height >4.5m N8 autoroute Height > 4.5m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Adinkerkebrug, N34 Height >4.5m foot bridge Height >4.5m mooring/town Adinkerke border France-Belgium

22 Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort, Belgium locks moorings Connects the Ganzepoot canal intersection at Nieuwpoort to the Gent-Oostende canal. Speed limit 5 km/hour, 7 opening bridges. R/L label does not follow the normal river right bank/left bank convention, as tidal waters make the flow direction unclear; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling from Nieuwpoort to Plassendale. KM approx R 1.40R 2.8R L L L 19.2R Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Ganzepoot, Nieuwpoort lock Graven varies, 45m X 8.5m VHF20 tel tidal Lockkeeper will arrange lift-bridge openings upon request lift bridge N380 low clearance; bridge must open for passage port Le Boat base tel lock St Joris 0.8m 124m X 12.5m VHF20 tel restaurant Nieuwendam menu/quality unknown lift bridge Rattevallebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage lift bridge Slijpebrug, N325 low clearance; bridge must open for passage lift bridge Leffingebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage mooring/town Leffinge Free mooring left bank (24 hrs limit) E/W shops nearby on west side Kalsijdebrug, N33 Height >5.5m mooring cycling stop/pavilion Free mooring pontoon left bank (24 hrs limit) E/W No shops/cafes Snaaskerke, Groene 62 Height >5.5m overhead pipes Height >5.5m lift bridge Gistelbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage lift bridge Zaanvoordebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage mooring/town Oudenburg Free mooring left bank (24 hrs limit) E/W shops on east side 1km mooring/town Oudenburg Free mooring right bank (24 hrs limit) E/W Oudenburg same side 1km A10 Height >5.5m railway bridge Height >5.5m lift bridge Oudenburgsesteenweg low clearance; bridge must open for passage lock Plassendale 0.8m 90m X 6.35m VHF20 tel Lockkeeper will arrange lift-bridge openings upon request junction Kanaal Gent-Oostende

23 Lokanaal, Belgium locks moorings Connects the Nieuwpoort-Duinkerke canal at Veurne to the river IJzer. Speed limit 7 km/hour, 6 opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Fintele to Veurne, even though the log is shown as traveling upstream. KM approx L 11.6L L Feature Name Lock Height junction Kanal Nieuwpoort-Duinkerke lift bridge Rozebrug Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call Veurne lockkeeper VHF20 tel N390 wide bridge, 4-lane highway A18 autoroute wide bridge, 4-lane highway lift bridge Kortewildebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call Veurne lockkeeper VHF20 tel lift bridge Millebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call VHF20 tel foot bridge Oerenbrug Height >4.2m foot bridge Height >4.2m Fortembrug Height >4.2m mooring/town Alveringhem Free mooring at pontoon, no facilities; cafe nearby, shops 1km west mooring/town Lo Free mooring at pontoon, no facilities; cafe & shops nearby, east side. Picturesque windmill "Markymolen" adjacent to mooring. Visit historic town of Lo 400 meters east. lift bridge Lobrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call Fintelesluis lockkeeper VHF20 tel lift bridge Kellenaersbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, call Fintelesluis lockkeeper VHF20 tel foot bridge Hullebrug Height >4.2m lock/lift bridge Fintelesluis 0.7m 47.5m X 5.2m VHF20 2 No waiting quay, call lockkeeper early. Tie to floating pontoons in lock. junction IJzer river T-junction, river is navigable eastbound only. mooring/town Fintele On the IJzer river: free mooring at pontoon, no facilities. no shops. Restaurant De Hooipiete adjacent to mooring, Restaurant De Lisdodde 250 meters west across lock and dam; website

24 IJzer river, Belgium locks moorings Connects the Lokanaal at Fintele to the Kanaal Plassandale-Nieuwpoort at Nieuwpoort. Speed limit 7 km/hour, 1 opening bridge. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Fintele to Nieuwpoort. KM approx L R L R 13.7R 15.0L R L R 31.0 Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Lokanaal On the Ijzer river: free mooring at pontoon, no facilities. no shops. mooring/town Fintele Restaurant/hotel De Hooipiete adjacent to mooring; Restaurant De Lisdodde 250 meters west across lock; Height >4.8m junction Kanaal Ieper-IJzer lift bridge Knokkebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage, no waiting quays. Call in advance to schedule: tel or Fintele lock tel railway bridge Height >4.8m site IJzertoren WW1 memorial tower and arch; floating restaurant Diksmuide Height >4.8m mooring/town Diksmuide Yacht Haven Fee-charging mooring along wall, E/W/T/S; cafes, shops nearby mooring/town Diksmuide Yacht Haven Fee-charging mooring along grassy bank, E/W; cafes, shops 400 meters mooring/site De Dodengang "Trench of Death" WWI memorial, preserved battle trenches lift bridge Tervatebrug Height when closed <1.2m Call VHF20 or tel Schoorbakkebrug, N302 Height >4.8m Uniebrug, N367 Height >4.8m mooring/restaurand'uniebrugghe uniebrugghe.be A18 autoroute wide bridge, 4-lane highway reservoir Nieuwpoort Spaarbekken mooring/city Sint-Joris Yacht Haven Fee-charging marina/restaurant tel E/W/T/S/L VVW Westhoek Sightseeing, shops, restaurants in Nieuwpoort city 1km west closed channel IJzer river Westbound channel from marina closed by low fixed bridge; use St-Joris. lock St-Joris 0.8m At NW corner of Spaarbekken 124m X 12.5m VHF20 tel junction Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort

25 Kanaal Ieper-IJzer (Ieperlee Kanaal), Belgium locks moorings Connects the IJzer river to the town of Ieper. Dead-end at port in Ieper. Speed limit 7 km/hour, 5 fixed bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Ieper to IJzer river, although the direction of the log below is upstream. KM approx R R L 15.2 Feature Name Lock Height junction IJzer river Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel site De Boot/Isera Moored barges; Isera is a B&B, De Boot is an eco-b&b with electric boat rentals. Adjacent to Blankaart nature reserve, with hiking and tours. Drie-Grachtenbrug Height >4.0m mooring/cafe Deraedt Ann Cafe Free mooring, no facilites; cafe nearby Steenstratebrug, N369 Height >4.0m lock/ Sluis Boezinge Sas m X 5.1m VHF18 tel Boezingebrug Height >4.0m road/foot bridge abandoned railway bridge lock/ Sluis Boezinge-Dorp m X 5.1m VHF18 tel N38 Height >4.0m junction Ieperlee river non-navigable; ruins of locks mooring/town IeperYacht Haven VVW Ieperlee Fee-charging marina/restaurant tel E/W/T/S Sightseeing, shops, restaurants nearby

26 IJzer-Ieper Loop This area was the site of some of the bloodiest battles of WWI, the only area of Belgium unoccupied by Germany, preventing them from attaining the important French ports. The canal was essentially the front line for four years; over 300,000 allied troops were killed in four major battles between 1914 and The town of Ieper (Ypres) was reduced to rubble but has been convincingly rebuilt to look exactly as it did before. In Flanders Fields the poppies blow... De Dodengang, the Trenches of Death have been maintained as a memorial and historic site, easily visited from a mooring pontoon 1.5 km north of Diksmuide on the IJzer river.

27 Hops at Poperinge Beer in Belgium World-famous Belgian beers are served in the cities of Brugge and Gent but brewed (and available for drinking in cafes) in the small towns of Flanders and Wallonie. Here are the comments of Don and Cathy Jo Chesnut on their visit to the fields of Flanders:...We moved Odysseus about 8 km to our next tie-up spot, a little village called Fintele. From there we set out on our bikes again, making a beer pilgrimage to Belgium's hop headquarters at Poperinge. We also tasted "the best beer in the world." Recently, thousands of beer enthusiasts on ratebeer.com proclaimed the beer produced at the St. Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren as the worlds best. Since we were so close it seemed unreasonable not to check it out. There are no tours of the abbey itself but there is a cafe nearby that sells the famous brew so we were happy to sample some of the 5.8% blond and 8% brown. We took home some 10.8% for later, not trusting our bike riding skills after that. The percentages refer to alcohol content, of course. For more information, go to Wikipedia:

28 Zeebrugge Terneuzen Oostende Brugge Balgerhoeke Oudenburg Beernem Eeklo Zelzate Brugge-Gent-Kortrijk Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Kanaal Gent-Oostende Boudewijnkanaal Eeklokanaal Afleidingskanaal van de Leie Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen Ringvaart Leie river Bovenschelde Roeselare Zeeschelde Kanaal Roeselare-Leie Moervaart Izegem Locks Marinas km Sint-Joris Ingelmunster Ooigem Harelbeke Kortrijk Alterbrug Deinze Oudenaarde Gent Lokeren

29 Kanaal Gent-Oostende, Belgium Sheet 1, Oostende to Brugge locks moorings Connects the cities of Gent and Brugge to the North Sea at Oostende. Speed limit 12 km/hour, 12 opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Gent westward to the sea, although the direction of the log below is upstream. KM approx L 5.9L 6.0L L R Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Oostende harbor lock Demeysluis varies, 120m X 17.5m VHF10 tel tidal Lockkeeper will open lift-bridges at lock double lift bridgeringlaan, N34 Demeysluis lockkeeper will open lift-bridges VHF10 swing bridge Doksluis Bridge at south end of open lock VHF10 tel swing bridge Doksluis Bridge at north end of open lock VHF10 tel lift bridge Plassendalebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF10&20 tel restaurant Restaurant Plassendale menu/quality unknown junction Kanaal Plassendale-Nieuwpoort mooring/town Plassendale Free mooring left bank, no facilities lift bridge Stalhillebrug Handsome modern bridge; low clearance; bridge must open for passage mooring/retaura Ter Spindle Estaminette Free mooring left bank, no facilities restaurant: terspinde.be N377 Height >5m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway restaurant Cafe Nieuwege menu/quality unknown lift bridge Nieuwegebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel N31 Height >5m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Waggel-Waterbrug Height >5m railway bridge Height >5m lift bridge Scheepsdalebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel swing bridge Krakelebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel junction Budewijnkanaal city Brugge (Bruges) Views and access to the historic city of Brugge.

30 Kanaal Gent-Oostende, Belgium Sheet 2, Brugge to Beernem locks moorings Connects the cities of Gent and Brugge to the North Sea at Oostende. Speed limit 12 km/hour, 12 opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Gent westward to the sea, although the direction of the log below is upstream. KM approx R L 24.8L R L 26.3L L L L L Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel lift bridge Warandebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel Round lock; 89.5m X 70m VHF18 8 lock Nieuwe Dammepoort 1.73m Lockkeeper will arrange lift-bridge openings upon request junction Kanaal Brugge-Sluis abandoned canal; good for walking/cycling on towpath lift bridge Noordelijke Kruispoortbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel lift bridge Zuidelijke Kruispoortbrug low clearance; bridges open in succession VHF18 tel mooring Free 1 hour mooring left bank, no facilities City-managed moorings along both sides of closed-end canal. Enter under port/city Coupure yacht haven a fantastic lifting footbridge; call harbormaster for opening. The prime moorings in Brugge, convenient and pleasant. VHF18 tel lift bridge Gentpoortbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel swing bridge Katelijnepoortbrug low clearance; bridges open in succession VHF18 tel mooring Free 1 hour mooring right bank, no facilities Ringlaan, N30 Height >5m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway site Barge Boat Hotel port/city Flandria yacht haven Club-managed moorings on east side of closed-end canal. E/W/T/S no shops nearby, city center 1.5km north. tel foot bridge La Bourgeoise Height >5m lift bridge Steenbruggebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel mooring Free mooring left bank, no facilities lift bridge Moerbruggebrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage VHF18 tel closed canal floodgate Beernem Keersluis one-way traffic, watch lights. Moorings above & below floodgate. restaurant Dewitte-Willy bar/cafe: menu/quality unknown N370 Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway foot bridge Beernem Height >7m port/town Beernem Club-managed moorings on left bank. E/W/T/S shops nearby, city center 1.5km north; use new foot bridge. tel

31 Kanaal Gent-Oostende, Belgium Sheet 3, Beernem to Gent locks moorings Connects the cities of Gent and Brugge to the North Sea at Oostende. Speed limit 12 km/hour, 12 opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Gent westward to the sea, although the direction of the log below is upstream. KM approx. 37.7L L Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel closed canal N368 Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway N44 Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway mooring Free mooring left bank at factory, no facilities or shops, short-term only cable ferry Oostmolen Be alert for cable on surface or underwater. Height >7m Height >7m junction Canal crossing: north, Eeklokanaal; south, Afleidingskanaal van de Leie Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway junction Ringvaart (Gent Ring) use Ringvaart to south for moorings and city center flood gate K1 R4 Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway foot bridge R40 junction Verbindingskanaal foot bridge Bargiebrug end of navigable canal

32 Leie river The natural river Leie twisted through eight sweeping curves between Kortrijk and Deinze; this section was replaced by the straight, wide Schipdonkkanaal, the ship channel for barges, which extends north past Deinze to its junction with Gent-Oostende Kanaal, bypassing the narrow Leie from Deinze into Gent. Nevele Schipdonk sluis Afleidingskanaal van de Leie Schipdonkkanaal Leie Diversion Canal St-Martens Leerne Gent-Oostende Kanaal Baarle Ringvaart Drongen Afsnee St-Martens Latem Ringvaart Evergem sluis K1 Gent-Oostende Kanaal Watersportbaan K2 3 Jachthavens: VVW Gent-Leie GLV KGVW Leie Ringvaart Gent Gent-Terneuzen Kanaal Verbindingskanaal See Gent Map Boven- Schelde Leie non-navigable Deinze Leie Schipdonkkanaal Leie Astene Ooidonk Deurle The meandering tourist Leie is 25 km of pleasure-cruising territory, a sightseeing day-trip or a route from the southwest directly into the center of Gent. Turning basin, eastern limit for commercial barges km Boven- Schelde K3

33 Don Chesnut on Odysseus writes about the tourist Leie: The Leie is very much like the Vecht River is Holland, just narrower and curvier and the houses are even more spectacular. Friday morning we left the city (Gent) and headed down (southbound but upstream) the Leie River. The weather was perfect; sunny and warm. It was just a short 3 hours to our stop in the Deinze Yacht Haven

34 Leie river, Belgium Kromme Tourist Leie, Deinze to Gent locks moorings Connects the Leie river at Deinze to central Gent and the Ringvaart. Speed limit 12 km/hour (9 km/hr for vessels with draft >1m.) R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling downstream from Deinze eastward to Gent. Kromme means curving, a narrow, twisting river. KM approx L L 8.0R L R L 21.7L R L 25.1R 25.2R 25.2R Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Leie schipdonkkanaal Leie ship channel boat club/town Deinze Deinze Yacht Club tel E/W/T/S N35 Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway Tolpoortbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage tel Guido Gezellebrug Height >9m turning basin Eastern limit for commercial barges factory bridge Height >7m Height >4.4m lift bridge Ophaalbrug low clearance; bridge must open for passage tel lock Astene open lock; 42.2m X 5.2m mooring Astene no facilities mooring Deurle no facilities St-Martens Leerne boat club/town St-Martens Leerne Motor Yachtclub Gent E/W/T club cafe/bar cable ferry Baarle Be alert for cable on surface or underwater. mooring St-Martens Latem no facilities A10 Height >7m; wide bridge, 4-lane highway boat club Leie Snelvaarders tel junction Drongen arm Alternate channel of the Leie, 2km to the town of Drongen. cable ferry Afsnee Be alert for cable on surface or underwater. closed-end channel R4 Height >4.4m junction Ringvaart R4 open lock K2 boat club KGWV Koninklijke Gentse Watersport Vereniging vzw tel boat club GLV Gentse Leie Vaarders tel E/W/T/S closed-end channel boat club VVW Gent Leie VVW Gent Leie tel E/W/T/S

35 Best Cities to Visit: Brugge, the Venice of the North, is, like Gent, crisscrossed by many small canals, although nearly all of them are forbidden to visiting vessels. Kanaal Gent-Oostende curves around the city from the northwest to the south. The name comes from the Norse Bruggia, meaning mooring place, and moorings are available for extended visits to this very pleasant and interesting small city. Modern docks are located at the southern end of the city, or for a walking-distance mooring use the Coupure, a deadend canal cut into the center of the city from the southeast curve of the canal. As with the other Venice, Brugge has always been a major trading center, although nowadays the trade is mostly with the large volume of tourists. The village-like city is one of the most charming and easily-toured destinations in Europe. There are scores of shops and restaurants to satisfy any tastes. Almost everyone rides the canal sightseeing boats, which are most enjoyable when the stone buildings are floodlit in the evening. From Brugge, one of the abandoned canals of Belgium can be the location of a pleasant day s excursion. A bicycle path alongside the Damse Vaart leads from the northeast corner of the ring canal to the classic Flemish village of Damme and beyond into the perfectly flat but very beautiful countryside, well populated by dairy cows. Don t pack a lunch, you will find enjoyable small cafes in the village. Much of the bank of the Kanaal Gent-Oostende around the city is a park; this makes the cruising enjoyable and it is also a great place for walking and cycling. But there are inconveniences; along with one lock, the Nieuwe Dammepoortsluis, there are seven bridges that must open for boats. Because these bridges serve roads with heavy traffic, the bridges operate under strict rules and will open only for convoys of boats. Contact the bridgekeepers on VHF 18 and follow their instructions carefully; they know about other traffic that may not be seen by you and will arrange the schedule and position of boats accordingly. There are pontoons available for mooring during waiting periods. The three bridges west of the lock operate independently but should be passed in a convoy. On the eastern side the two bridges at Kruispoortbruggen will open in succession, as will the next two, Gentpoortbrug and Katelijnepoortbrug. Again, follow the convoy and the bridgekeeper s instructions. It is courteous to advise them if you are dropping out of a convoy, say to moor at the Coupure.

36 Boudewijnsluis Krakelebrug Oostende 20 km via Gent-Oostende canal (#22) Scheepsdalebrug Gent-Oostende Kanaal Zeebrugge 12 km via canal (#21) Warandebrug Damme 4.6 km via disused canal (good cycle path) Nieuwe Dammepoortsluis Kruispoortbruggen Historic Center (Markt) Brugge Coupure moorings Gentpoortbrug 0 1km Katelijnepoortbrug Flandria Jachthaven Gent (Ringvaart) 40.6 km via Gent-Oostende canal (#22)

37 Coupure moorings The Coupure is a popular mooring, very close to the center of Brugge (see map, previous page.) Coupure means cut ; it is a disused canal branch straight into the center of the city. Note the church steeple, St Anarei; the central Markt is just a few blocks to the left. Despite the proximity of the tourist area, the moorings are in a quiet residential area. Electricity and water are available at the dock, no other services.

38 A liveaboard barge, moored (and well guarded) along the Kanaal Gent-Oostende at Brugge.

39 Best Cities to Visit: Gent, the capital of Flanders, is a true center of the compass; waterways radiate north, east, south and west, accessed from the center of the city or from the Ringvaart which circles the perimeter and connects all of the waterways. The Ringvaart makes it easy to bypass Gent and continue directly on a route from Brugge to Antwerpen or Brussel, for instance. It is not a full circle, rather a large C with the top end at the seaport north of the city and the bottom end at the Boven- Zeeschelde on the southeast of the city, where the tidal Schelde turns toward Antwerpen. But the C also crosses Kanaal Gent-Oostende, river Leie (and Arm van Drongen of the Leie) and the Bovenschelde as it enters the city from the south. It is easy to guess the reason that Gent became an important city many centuries ago, as it is located at the junction of two major rivers, the Leie and the Schelde. The Leie loops through the center of the city and several canal cuts have been added, so there is a great deal of waterfront. However, some channels are forbidden due to silting and low bridges, thus cannot be accessed by visiting boaters. Moorings are available in marinas and along the banks of the Leie at some locations. There is a group of three marinas on the Leie at the inside of the junction with the Ringvaart and two in the city center. The latter are both within a short walk of the historic city center. The three outside marinas are 6 km from the center. It is essential to plan your route into Gent in advance, using one of the routes detailed below. Once you are moored in Gent, the historical and cultural sights can be visited on foot, by bike or by dinghy (tours and small rental boats are available.) (See map on next page) Entering from the west on Kanaal Gent-Oostende: turn south on the Ringvaart and enter the city on the Leie (draft 1.9m, bridge clearance 4.05m.) Or continue on the Ringvaart to the Bovenschelde, then into the city on the Opperschelde or Visserijvaart (draft 1.9m, bridge clearance 3.9m.) Entering from the southwest on the Leie: continue into the city on the Leie (draft 1.9m, bridge clearance 4.05m) to the Gent-Centrum Jachthaven or continue via Ketelvaart, Opperschelde, Bovenschelde, Visserijvaart to Portus Ganda Haven. Entering from the south on the Bovenschelde: continue into the city on the Opperschelde or Visserijvaart (draft 1.9m, bridge clearance 3.9m.) Entering from the east on the Boven-Zeeschelde: turn west on the Ringvaart then north on the Bovenschelde, continue into the city on the Opperschelde or Visserijvaart (draft 1.9m, bridge clearance 3.9m.) Entering from the north (Netherlands) on the Gent-Terneuzen Kanaal: turn east into the Handelsdok, then west to Portus Ganda Jachthaven (draft 12m, bridge clearance 4.2m.)

40 KYCG Jachthaven Gent-Oostende Kanaal Ringvaart Evergem sluis K1 Gent-Terneuzen Kanaal K1, K2, K3 are Keersluis, open locks used as floodgates. Gent-Oostende Kanaal Ringvaart Drongen Gent-Centrum Jachthaven Watersportbaan Verbindingskanaal Historic Center A Handelsdok E C D Portus Ganda Jachthaven Central Gent Waterways: A Ketelvaart B Opperschelde C Benedenschelde D Visserijvaart E Vertakking de Pauw Baarle Leie Afsnee K2 Leie Gent B Ringvaart St-Martens Latem 3 Jachthavens: VVW Gent-Leie GLV KGVW Boven- Schelde K3 Yachting Merelbeke Sluis Merelbeke Ringvaart Boven Zeeschelde km Boven- Schelde

41 The city is located at the confluence of two major rivers, the Leie and the Schelde; the various channels cut by those rivers centuries ago has resulted in a multitude of waterways which can be navigated by visiting cruisers. In fact, just getting to the two marinas in center of the city is a great sightseeing tour itself. The non-navigable canals are served by fleets of tour boats. The local government is committed to waterway improvements, such as reopening the Reep channel from Ketelvaart to Portus Ganda jachthaven. Gent is a city of Flemish facades, spires and tourists from all over Europe. It is popular with British visitors, so English is not uncommon at the docks and on the streets. The Gentse Feesten draws huge crowds during the last two weeks of July for theatre, dance and music, as well as crowd events such as swimming across the Leie river from the docks of the Portus Ganda jachthaven. For more information on visiting Gent: Street map:

42 X Gent-Terneuzen Kanaal X Muidebrug Tolhuissluis Ringvaart Gent-Oostende Kanaal Gent-Centrum (Lindelei) Jachthaven tel havenmeester.gent@vpf.be Verbindingskanaal X Coupure Historic Center X X X Reep Ketelvaart X Opperschelde X Handelsdok St-Jorissluis Benedenschelde Visserijvaart De Pauwvertakking Portus Ganda Jachthaven VHF19 tel Lousbergbrug liftbridge tel K2 X Leie All bridges on Leie are fixed Clearance >4.05m Jachthavens@Snepkaai: KGVW GLV VVW Gent-Leie Gent X X Bovenschelde Gentbruggesluis (no passage) Brusselseportsluis 41.5 X 6.5m tidal lock tel All bridges on Bovenschelde are fixed Clearance >3.9m m

43 Leie river, Belgium Ringvaart to center of Gent. locks moorings Follows the Leie river within the city of Gent, Ringvaart to the end of the navigable river. Speed limit 12 km/hour. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream, in this case into the city center. This log will take you to the Jachthaven Gent Centrum; to go to the Jachthaven Portus Ganda, see the Gent city map. KM approx L 26.4R 26.5R 26.5R L L 29.9L 30.0R 30.1 Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Ringvaart R4 open lock K2 boat club KGWV Koninklijke Gentse Watersport Vereniging vzw tel boat club GLV Gentse Leie Vaarders tel E/W/T/S closed-end channel boat club VVW Gent Leie VVW Gent Leie tel E/W/T/S railway bridge closed-end channel Europabrug Height >4.0m Height >4.0m Height >4.0m Height >4.0m closed-end channel Coupure, non-navigable link to Gent-Oostende Kanaal port/city Gent Jachthaven Gent Centrum tel E/W/T/S junction Ketelvaart closed-end channel northern end of navigable Leie

44 Kanaal Gent-Terneuzen, Netherlands/Belgium Westerschelde to center of Gent. locks moorings Follows the canal from the Westerschelde, NL to the center of Gent BE. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM approx R 2.1R 2.1R 2.1R 2.8R R/L 12.8L L 15.8R L 22.8R 23.7R 26.7R 27.5L 28.3R 29.0L 29.7R R Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Westerschelde NL Listen on Terneuzen Central traffic conrol VHF3 lock/liftbridge Oostsluis Terneuzen tidal 160/105m X 24m VHF18 tel closed channel Zijkanaal A 1 km channel north to three jachthavens and Terneuzen city center port Aricom Yacht Services moorings near city tel nl E/W/T/F boatyard Vermeulen's Jachtwerf boat service/moorings tel nl boat club WV Neusen moorings near city tel E/W boatyard Aricom Yacht Services service/indoor storage tel nl swing bridge Sluiskil Height closed 6.5m/7.0m VHF11 barge harbor Sluiskil port/town Sas van Gent close to shops and cafes E/W swing bridge Sas van Gent Height closed 7.0m VHF11 museum harbor Sas van Gent classic barges in harbor border/port/town Zelzate BE Jachthaven Zelzate tel jachthavenzelzate@hotmail.com lift bridge Zelzatebrug tel VHF20 Height >7.2m barge harbor Kluizendok barge harbor Rodenhuizedok junction Moervaart Mendonk Yacht Haven 1 km east tel vvwmendonk.com E/W/T/S barge harbor Mercatordok port/town Langerbrugge Koninklijke Yacht Club Gent tel E/W/T/S/ L Royal Belgium Sailing Club tel www rbsc.be barge harbor Sifferdok junction Ringvaart barge harbor Grootdok no entry by pleasure vessels lift bridge Muelestedebrug VHF20 tel railway bridge Wiedauwkaaispoorbrug 250m south of bridge: 90º left turn to Handelsdok lift bridge Muidebrug VHF20 tel barge harbor Handelsdok follow Handelsdok to south Dampoortbrug 90º right turn onto De Pauwvertakking Pauwbrug port/city Gent Portus Ganda jachthaven VHF19 tel E/W/T/S

45 Central Belgium Lys Zeekanaal Brussel-Schelde Kanaal Charleroi-Brussel Zeeschelde Bovenschelde Ringvaart Leie Dender Rupel Beneden Nete Netekanaal Dijle Kanaal Leuven-Dijle Canal du Centre Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes Canal Blaton-Ath Albertkanaal Kanaal van Dessel... Menen Deûlémont FR Canal de la Deûle Locks Moorings km Scarpe Deinze Kortrijk Kerkhove Bossuit Tournai Péronnes Escaut Asper Blaton X Gavere Gent Oudenaarde Geraardsbergen Ath >1m depth Pommeroeul Terneuzen Zelzate Wetteren Aalst Denderleeuw Vlaanderen Wallonie Nimy Ninove Strépy-Thieu boatlift Mons Antwerpen Dendermonde Halle Ronquières inclined plane Seneffe Schoten Viersel Temse Lier Boom Durme Klein Rumst Willebroek Duffel Historic Canal du Centre Sambre Mechelen Brussel Massenhoven Charleroi Herentals Leuven Namur

46 Best Cities to Visit: Antwerpen Schelde river Grote Markt A major seaport and petrochemical processing center, the commercial harbor at this city can be daunting to pleasure cruisers. It s best to tie up across the river Schelde at the Linkeroever Jachthaven; the Saint Anna pedestrian/cyclist tunnel (1.1km south of the jachthaven) under the river will bring you to the downtown restaurants, shops and diamond merchants. Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) is located 4 blocks north on the east bank of the river, home to an extensive collection of ships, maps and nautical items. The Grote Markt and cathedral are then just one block off the river. Or moor at the Willemdok marina, located right next to the Schipperskwartier (commercial shipping quarter, not surprisingly adjacent to the Red Light District.) The tall rust-colored building at right is the MAS, Museum aan de Stroom, featuring the art, history and culture of Antwerpen and the river Schelde (Stroom translates as river.) For more information on visiting the outstanding museums, picturesque galleries, sculpted streets and beautiful architecture of Antwerpen: visit.antwerpen.be Willemdok

47 Schelde-Rijnverbinding Entering Antwerpen: 1 -From the North Sea, via Westerschelde/Beneden Zeeschelde to Jachthaven Linkeroever or via Boudewijnsluis (lock) to Jachthaven Willemdok. 1 Boudewijnsluis 3 2- From Gent or Brussel, via Boven Zeeschelde to Jachthaven Linkeroever or via Royersluis (lock) to Jachthaven Willemdok. 3- From the central Netherlands, via Schelde-Rijnverbinding, no lock required to Jachthaven Willemdok. 4- From eastern Belgium or Netherlands, via Albertkanaal, no lock required to Jachthaven Willemdok. Beneden Zeeschelde Noordkasteelbrug To Jachthaven Willemdok: Enter via liftbridges Siberiabrug & Londenbrug; contact harbormaster VHF62 Antwerpen jachthaven info: (Watch the 2-minute video on the Home page) Jachthaven Linkeroever tel gsm jachthaven_linkeroever@skynet.be Jachthaven Willemdok tel gsm jaw@pandora.be km Royersluis Linkeroever Jachthaven access High Water +/- 1 hr Saint Anna tunnel Gent 75.6 km via Boven-Zeeschelde Kattendijksluis (closed) 2 Siberiabrug Londenbrug Historic City Center 4 Albertkanaal Jachthaven Willemdok Scheepvaartmuseum Antwerpen

48 Royal Yacht Club Budabrug, Vilvoorde Royal Yacht Club Best Cities to Visit: Brussel The capital city (and now the center of European Union bureaucracy) might be as a good city to visit as Brugge and Gent, if it made itself a more pleasant stop for canal travelers. Although the city has a lot of things to offer for visitors, a welcoming, pleasant waterfront along the canal is not one of them.the Canal Charleroi-Bruxelles which passes through the city is busy with commercial traffic and is fronted by some rather dismal neighborhoods and industrial buildings. Regarding ports, one boater reported...the Royal Yacht Club seemed to be the only place, but was not one I would really recommend - noisy roads, and just off the main canal with fast moving barges and plenty of surge. But another had this comment: The club and the people here are terrific. The front side of the haven is shown at left, but directly behind it is the Domaine Royal, a large park with walkways and small lakes, leading to the Royal Castle of Laeken, floral gardens and on to the Brussels Expo, the Atomium and Mini-Europe (see the websites below for descriptions.) These are all within an easy walk from the jachthaven. For visits to the city center and elsewhere, an extensive tram system is available. Bruxelles Royal Yacht Haven tel Water and elctricity at the docks, showers and a restaurant at the clubhouse. For more information on visiting Brussel: or visitbrussels.be

49 Kortrijk (Courtrai, French) was established as a Gallo-Roman town at an important crossroads on the Leie river. Today it is an interesting small city with a mix of progressive architecture and ultramodern bridges alongside historical features, such as the beautiful stone arches and towers of the Broeltoren bridge. The historical city centre is a car-free pedestrian area with lots of shops, bistros and shopping malls, just a few blocks from the moorings. More restaurants and parks can be found on the north side, across the fantastic curving Collegebrug footbridge. A four-decade project to improve the barge route along the Leie has brought new bridges, parks and riverside walkways. The last two bridges, Reepbrug and Budabrug, are scheduled for completion in Traffic on the Doortocht Kortrijk may be stopped during work, watch the traffic lights and listen or call on VHF20. Leie Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Hospital King Albert Park Collegebrug footbridge Groeningebrug Dambrug Kanaal Kortrijk-Bossuit Noordbrug Ronde van Vlaanderenbrug Leie Reepbrug Budabrug Kasteelbrug Doortocht Kortrijk barge and through-channel Kortrijk Buda Island Leiebrug footbridge pleasure-boat channel Historic Center Passantenhaven Kortrijk free moorings along quay Broeltoren m

50 Leie river, Belgium Sheet 1, Canal de la Deûle to Kortrijk. alternate channel locks moorings Follows the Leie river north from Deûlémont, FR to Kortrijk, BE. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM approx R 1.7L 2.4L 2.7L 2.8L 3.5L L 6.1L R L 14.4L L 16.3L 16.3L L Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel border/junction Canal de la Deûle FR town Deûlémont closed channel arm of Leie alternate channel Warneton south end of natural river loop /town Warneton Height >4.4m mooring Warneton mooring at pontoon north of bridge, no services alternate channel Warneton north end of natural river loop /town Warneton Height >4.4m lock Komen/Comines m X 12.5m VHF68 tel fuel dock Captain Neptunia fuel barge and chandlery: Tel: VHF 13. /town Komen/Comines Height >4.4m foot bridge Wervik Height >4.4m boat club/town Wervik VPF VZW Jachthaven Wervik tel E/W/T/S Wervik BE/Wervicq FR Height >4.4m closed channel Wervick arm of Leie lock Menen m X 12.5m VHF20 tel Height >4.4m closed channel Menen arm of Leie mooring Menen North side of channel, close to town/shops E/W boat club/town Menen-Halluin South side of channel, Yacht Club de la Lys tel E/W/T/S /town Menen-Halluin Height >4.4m N32 Height >4.4m wide bridge, 4-lane highway /town Wevelgem-Lauwe Height >4.4m A17 Height >4.4m wide bridge, 4-lane highway R8 Height >4.4m wide bridge, 4-lane highway Height >4.4m narrow channel mooring/town Bissigem No facilities; shops, cafe 500m railway bridge Kortrijk Height >4.4m modern suspension bridge, 4-lane highway Kortrijk

51 Leie river, Belgium Sheet 2, Kortrijk to Deinze alternate channel locks moorings Follows the Leie river north from Kortrijk to the junction with Kromme Leie. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments approx. Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel 27.4 island Buda island south end of island; pleasure boats take east channel, Height 2.95m 27.5R Kasteelbrug 27.7R Budastraat 27.9R foot bridge Broelbrug/Broeltoren stone arch bridge, stone towers at each end 28.1R foot bridge 28.2R mooring/town Passantenhaven Kortrijk Free mooring in city center on east bank E/W 28.4R Dambrug Height 2.95m 28.5 island Buda island north end of island; pleasure boats take east channel, Height 2.95m 27.5L Reepbrug west channel along Buda Island 27.7L Budabrug west channel along Buda Island 28.2L foot bridge College Bridge west channel along Buda Island 28.5 Groeningebrug 28.5R junction Kanaal Kortrijk-Bossuit 29.7 R8 Height >4.4m wide bridge, 4-lane highway 30.7L boat club/town Kuurne WSV Kuurne E/W/T/S 31.4 /town Harelbeke-Kuurne 32.0R lock Harelbeke m X 12.4m VHF20 tel Harelbeke 33.5 N36 Beneluxbrug Height >4.4m wide bridge, 4-lane highway L junction Kanaal Roeselare-Leie 40.4 N382 Height >4.4m wide bridge, 4-lane highway 41.8 N357 Height >4.4m 42.3R junction/lock Eloois-Vijve 2.39 Lock on southern end of Leie natural river loop 43.2m X 6m 42.8 lock St Baafs-Vijve m X 16m VHF22 tel R junction Eloois-Vijve Northern end of Leie natural river loop N railway bridge junction Leie schipdonkkanaal Leie ship channel; Afleidingskanaal van de Leie

52 Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes, Belgium Sheet 1, Mons to Pommeroeul locks moorings Connects the Canal du Centre at Le Grand Large (lake) to the junction with Canal Pommeroeul-Condé. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling westward. KM approx L&R R R L Feature Name Bridge Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Canal du Centre KM24.8 west side of Le Grand Large, Mons E flood gate/footbridge barge harbor railway bridge disused barge harbor 8.60 railway bridge 7.90 barge harbor junction Canal Pommeroeul-Condé closed at KM5.35, Hensies lock

53 Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes, Belgium Sheet 2, Pommeroeul to Pérrones locks moorings Connects from the junction with Canal Pommeroeul-Condé to the junction with Haut Escaut river. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling westward. KM approx R 21.1L R 26.2R R R 37.2R 37.8R Feature Name Bridge Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel 6.70 railway bridge railway bridge footbridge junction Canal Blaton-Ath closed canal railway bridge 5.40 port Péruwelz VHF68 tel / !12.50 E/W/T/S/L port Péruwelz railway bridge 5.30 closed canal lock Maubray-Péronnes One chamber 86x12m height 12.5m VHF22 tel boatyard Chantier Naval Plaquet Closed due to bankruptcy March yacht club Tournai Yacht Club tel / !9.00 E/W yacht club Péronnes Yacht Club tel / !8.00 E/W/T/S/L lock Péronnes One chamber 86x12m height 5.6m VHF20 tel junction Haut-Escaut river KM4.65

54 Canal du Centre, Belgium Sheet 1, Seneffe to Strépy-Thieu locks moorings Connects from the junction with Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi to the junction with the Historic Canal du Centre, western end. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling westward. KM approx R L 2.6L L 4.8L L 13.1L 13.1L Feature Name Bridge Height Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi KM26.1 restaurant quay Le Nautic tel / railway bridge waterski base 5.25 barge harbor grass mooring on east bank, no facilities. junction Historic Canal du Centre, eastern end flood gate canal bridge turning basin boatlift Ascenceur de Strépy-Thieu Two basins 118x12m height 73.15m VHF20 tel junction Historic Canal du Centre, western end lock Ecluse de Thieu One chamber 41.06x5.20m height 6.00m tel yacht club Yacht Club des Ascenseurs tel / !1.00/m E/W/T/S/L

55 Canal du Centre, Belgium Sheet 2, Strépy-Thieu to Mons locks moorings Connects from the junction with Historic Canal du Centre to the junction with the Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling westward. KM approx. 13.1L Feature Name Bridge Height Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Historic Canal du Centre, western end foot bridge lock Ecluse d Havre One chamber 124x12.5m height 10.00m VHF22 tel foot bridge foot bridge factory bridge lock/bridge Ecluse d Obourg-Warton One chamber 96x12m height 5.00m VHF20 tel railway bridge lake Le Grand Large port Port du Grand Large à Mons Royal Club Nautique Mons-Borinage!1.00/m E/W/T/S/L tel portdemons@skynet.be junction Canal Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes KM0.0

56 Historic Canal du Centre, Belgium locks moorings This original canal is bypassed by the Strépy-Thieu boatlift on the Canal du Centre. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling westbound. KM approx L 7.7R R L Feature Name Bridge Height Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Canal du Centre lock Ecluse de Thieu One chamber 41.06x5.20m height 6.00m tel yacht club Yacht Club des Ascenseurs tel / !1.00/m E/W/T/S/L mooring quay on north bank, no facilities boatlift Ascenseur 4 Thieu Two basins 40.8x5.2m height 16.90m tel lifting bridge Thieu call in advance tel narrow passage lifting bridge Strépy-Bracquegnies call in advance tel lane bridge, high clearance turning bridge Strépy-Bracquegnies call in advance tel mooring grass mooring on north bank in front of Salle des Machines, no facilities. boatlift Ascenseur 3 Strépy-Bracquegnies Two basins 40.8x5.2m height 16.90m tel boatlift Ascenseur 2 Houdeng-Aimeries Two basins 40.8x5.2m height 16.00m tel turning bridge Houdeng-Aimeries call in advance tel railway bridge disused boatlift Ascenseur 1 Houdeng-Goegnies Two basins 40.8x5.2m height 15.50m tel barge harbor factory bridge junction Canal du Centre

57 Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi, Belgium Sheet 1, Charleroi to Viesville locks moorings Connects from the river Sambre at Charleroi to Ecluse 3, Viesville. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling northbound. KM approx Feature Name Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Sambre river KM39.0 factory bridge railway bridge turning basin factory bridge factory bridge railway bridge lock/ Ecluse 1 Marchienne-au-Pont One chamber 85.1x11.5m height 7.00m VHF20 tel foot bridge pipeline bridge railway bridge disused pipeline bridge lock Ecluse 2 Goseliers One chamber 85.8x11.5m height 7.00m VHF18 tel lock/ Ecluse 3 Viesville One chamber 85.92x11.5m height 7.00m VHF22 tel

58 Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi, Belgium Sheet 2, Viesville to Seneffe locks moorings Connects from Ecluse 3, Viesville, to the junction with the Canal du Centre near Seneffe. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling northbound. KM approx L 23.6L 24.2R L Feature Name Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel foot bridge railway bridge foot bridge foot bridge junction Branche de Bellecourt port SNEF Yachting Club tel !9.00 E/W/T/S/L branch channel closed railway bridge junction Canal du Centre KM0.0

59 Sambre river, Belgium Sheet 1, Charleroi to Montignies locks moorings Connects from Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi to Ecluse 12, Montignies. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling eastbound. KM approx L Feature Name Bridge Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction Canal Bruxelles-Charleroi KM0.0 factory bridge factory bridge lock Ecluse 11 Marcinelle One chamber 119.4x12.5m height 3.00m VHF18 tel railway bridge 4.50 railway bridge 4.50 railway bridge foot bridge railway bridge disused 2 pipeline bridges railway bridge lock Ecluse 12 Montignies One chamber 112x12.5m height 2.20m VHF20 tel foot bridge barge harbor possible mooring, no services, difficult access to city streets. railway bridge 5.65 foot bridge

60 Sambre river, Belgium Sheet 2, Montignies to Auvelais locks moorings Connects from Ecluse 12, Montignies, to Ecluse 14, Auvelais. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling eastbound. Feature Name Bridge Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel KM approx R L L R L L foot bridge foot bridge railway bridge barge harbor barge harbor Pont-de-Loup former Vankerkoven boatyard, now closed factory bridge barge harbor lock Ecluse 13 Roselies One chamber 112x12.5m height 3.60m VHF22 tel railway bridge barge harbor foot bridge railway bridge railway bridge 2 railway bridges lock Ecluse 14 Auvelais One chamber 136.3x12.5m height 2.80m VHF18 tel LIDL supermarket near east end of bridge mooring Auvelais wooden quay with bollards; no facilities railway bridge barge harbor pipeline bridge

61 Sambre river, Belgium Sheet 3, Auvelais to Namur locks moorings Connects from Ecluse 14, Auvelais, to the junction with the Haute Meuse river at Namur. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; on this table R/L means right side/left side as viewed when traveling eastbound. KM approx R L R Meuse 46.0R Feature Name Bridge Height Description/Operator/Comments Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel lock Ecluse 15 Mornimont One chamber 111.9x12.5m height 4.60m VHF20 tel railway bridge barge harbor railway bridge halte Floreffe free, no services, some shops nearby. Tranquil, monastery on hill above. railway bridge lock Ecluse 16 Floriffoux One chamber 111.9x12.5m height 3.90m VHF18 tel railway bridge barge harbor reported 2014; new bridge, not shown on Google Earth railway bridge lock Ecluse 17 Salzinnes-Namur One chamber 136x12.5m height 2.30m VHF22 tel foot bridge junction Haute Meuse river KM46.4 port/city Namur/Jambes Port de Plaisance de Henri Hallet tel E/W/T/S WiFi

62 Strépy-Thieu boatlift Mons Sambre Halle Ronquières inclined plane Seneffe Brussel Charleroi Meuse-Ardennes Namur Profondeville Haute Meuse (Upper Meuse) South of Namur the Meuse twists through the wooded cliffs of the Ardennes forest. Meuse Jambes Dinant Anseremme Waulsort Heer Hasselt Huy Genk Maas/Meuse river The river flows north from France and through Wallonie as the Meuse; it becomes the Maas when it enters the Netherlands at Maastricht. It is a popular direct route for cruising between France and Netherlands. Meuse moyenne (middle Meuse) The section from Liège to Namur is a busy industrial area with heavy barge traffic. Beez km Maastricht Maas Basse Meuse Liège Zeekanaal Brussel-Schelde Kanaal Charleroi-Brussel Canal du Centre Canal du Centre (historic) Sambre Meuse Albertkanaal Maas Julianakanaal Zuidwillemsvaart Kanaal Briegden-Neerharen Locks Moorings

63 Meuse river The Meuse river is an important through-route for inland waterway travel in Europe; it is part of the shortest, most direct route between the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This long scenic river flows north into Belgium and the Netherlands from its source near the far southern border of the Champagne region in east-central France. It is common for pleasure boaters to purchase a boat or barge in Holland and then travel directly to France up the Meuse, on canals connecting to Paris, Burgundy or on to southern France. This view of the Meuse is looking south from the citadel at Namur; Jambes Yacht Haven is at left, on the right bank; La Plante lock is on the left bank (because they are headed south, many boaters say they went down the Meuse to France.)

64 EuroCanals Charleroi Namur Meuse river, Belgium 9 Wépion Beez Andenne A Jambes 8 Meuse Moyenne B Wanze C Huy D Seraing Liège Basse Meuse Meuse Moyenne locks, km from border: A Grands Malades 48.7 B Andenne-Seilles 63.4 C Ampsin Neuville 82.8 D Ivoz-Ramet 97.2 Profondeville Haute Meuse Hastière Heer-Agimont FR Heer Dinant 3 Anseremme Waulsort Haute Meuse locks, km from border: 1 Hastière Waulsort Anseremme Dinant Houx Hun Rivière Tailfer La Plante 45.3 Écluse 4 Cheminées last lock in France, 4km north of town of Givet Meuse river Sambre river Locks Moorings Self-skippered rental boat base km

65 Meuse river, Belgium Sheet 1, French border to Dinant locks moorings Follows the Meuse river from the French border through the Ardennes to Dinant. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM approx L R 2.7R 3.8L 4.5L 5.2L 5.6R L 9.8R R 10.2L 13.6L R L 16.9R R 19.2R L Feature Name Lock # Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel lock Écluse 4 Cheminées last lock in France, 4km north of town of Givet border France mooring no services Pont de Heer Height >5.2m island Ile d'androssart Use left-bank channel for through passage island Ile Blaimont Use left-bank channel for through passage town Hermeton-sur-Meuse long quay left bank, no services; lock Hastière m X 12m VHF18 tel halte Hastière wooden dock on left bank, free, town with services 800m island Use left-bank channel for through passage Hastière Height >5.2m lock Waulsort m X 12m VHF20 tel water available boat club Yachtclub de la Haute Meuse clubhouse onboard "Hirondelle" tel cable ferry Waulsort pedestrian ferry on small boat port/town Waulsort Port de Plaisance de Waulsort tel E/T/S site Château de Waulsort site Château de Freyr Castle & gardens open to visitors, mooring at quay island Ile Moniat Use right & left-bank channel for through passage boat club Yachtclub de Anseremme tel E/W/T/S/L Rental Base Ardennes Nautisme ardennes-nautisme.com railway bridge Height >5.2m lock Anseremme m X 12m VHF22 tel water available island Ile d'amour Use left-bank channel for through passage N97 Viaduct Charlemagne very high, wide bridge, 4-lane highway site Rocher Bayard free-standing rock spire port/city Dinant Port de Plaisance de Dinant tel E/W close to shops/cafes Pont Charles De Gaulle Height >5.2m port/city Dinant Port de Plaisance de Dinant tel E/W/T/S/L

66 Meuse river, Belgium Sheet 2, Dinant to Namur locks moorings Follows the Meuse river from Dinant north to Namur. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM Feature Name Lock # Lock Description/Operator/Comments approx. Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel 20.3L 21.9R L 24.1R L R lock closed channel island lock island railway bridge town island Dinant Bassin de Bouvigne Ile d'al Golette Houx Ile de Houx Anhée N92 Pont d'yvoir Ile d'yvoir m X 12m VHF18 tel water available Use right & left-bank channel for through passage 100m X 12m VHF22 tel water available Use left-bank channel for through passage Height >5.2m Height >5.2m Use left-bank channel for through passage 27.2R mooring/restaura Ile d'yvoir tel La Gauloise, menu/quality unknown 28.8L 29.7L R 33.6L R 36.3L L 40.8R lock site island lock island ski zone/town lock island Hun Château de Hun Pont de Rouillon Ile de Godinne Rivière N947 Ile de Lustin Profondeville Pont de Wepion Tailfer Ile de Dave m X 12m VHF18 tel water available pedestrian ferry on small boat Height >5.2m Use left-bank channel for through passage 100m X 12m VHF22 tel very high, wide bridge, 4-lane highway Use left-bank channel for through passage Height >5.2m 100m X 12m VHF18 tel Use left-bank channel for through passage 43.9R 44.3R 45.3L 46.0R 46.0L L port Plage d'amée Port de Plaisance de Namur tel E/W/T/S/L WiFi portsdeplaisance.namur@skynet.be Cell: Guillaume Loute island Ile Vas T'y frotte Use left-bank channel for through passage lock La Plante m X 12m VHF20 tel port/city Namur/Jambes Port de Plaisance de Henri Hallet tel E/W/T/S WiFi portsdeplaisance.namur@skynet.be site Casino de Namur Pont de Jambes Height >5.2m junction Sambre river

67 Meuse river, Belgium Sheet 3, Namur to Huy. locks moorings Follows the Meuse river from Namur east to Liège. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM approx R L L 53.9L L 64.8R R 73.8R L R L 81.1R R 85.2L Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel Pont des Ardennes Height >5.0m 2 railway bridges Height >5.0m lock Grands Malades m X 25m VHF18 tel Pont des Grands Malades Height >5.0m shipyard Meuse & Sambre tel Viaduct Beez Height >5.0m port Beez Port de Plaisance de Beez tel E/W/T/S site Military amphibious training on river N942 Height >5.0m N968 Sclayn Height >5.0m island Ile Dossai Use right & left-bank channel for through passage lock Andenne-Seilles m/87m X 25m VHF22 tel island Ile de Belgrade Use left-bank channel for through passage N921 Andenne-Seilles Height >5.0m island Ile des Chanoines Use left-bank channel for through passage island Ile de la Sucrerie/Bousquet Use left-bank channel for through passage N612 very high, wide bridge, 4-lane highway; modern suspension bridge port Statte Yacht Club de Huy tel E/W/T/S restaurant railway bridge Height >5.0m three concrete arches site Fortress Huy Pont Badouin Height >5.0m three concrete arches, pictuesque bridge Pont de l'europe Height >5.0m port Corphalie Yacht Club de Huy tel E/W/T/S cafeteria site Tihange nuclear power plant, 3 cooling towers N684 Height >5.0m lock Ampsin Neuville m X 16m & 55m X 7.50m VHF18 tel island Ile de Ponthières Use right-bank channel for through passage Pont d'ombret Height >5.0m Pont d'hermalie Height >5.0m factory bridge Height >5.0m

68 Meuse river, Belgium Sheet 4, Huy to Liège locks moorings Follows the Meuse river through Liège to the junction with Canal Albert. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. KM approx L 97.2R R R R L R 114.0R 114.0R Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel N639 Height >5.0m factory site 3 tall chimneys lock/ Ivoz-Ramet m X 14m & 55m X 7.50m VHF22 tel railway bridge Height >5.0m factory site gas turbine power plant, 1 cooling tower factory bridge Height >5.0m A604 Pont de Seraing Height >5.0m factory bridge Height >5.0m Height >5.0m railway bridge Height >5.0m Pont de Liège Height >5.0m railway bridge Height >5.0m junction Canal de l'ourthe Pont de Fragnée Height >5.0m junction Ourthe river non-navigable Pont Albert 1er Height >5.0m port/city Liège Port des Yachts tel E/W/T/S/L WiFi restaurant Pont Kennedy Height >5.0m foot bridge La Passerelle Saucy Height >5.0m Pont des Arches Height >5.0m Pont Maghin Height >5.0m Pont de l'atlas V Height >5.0m junction Ourthe river non-navigable junction Basse Meuse river non-navigable section, Barrage (dam) Monsin island Ile Monsin junction canal Canal Albert

69 Meuse river, Belgium Sheet 5, Canal Albert to Basse Meuse river. locks moorings Follows the Canal Albert from the Meuse moyenne to the Basse Meuse. Speed limit 12 km/hour, no opening bridges. R/L label follows the normal river right bank/left bank convention; R/L means right side/left side when traveling downstream. The Meuse river is known as the Meuse moyenne (middle Meuse) from Namur to Ile Monsin; at that point the Basse Meuse flows east around the island but navigation is blocked by (the dam) Barrage Monsin. Traffic continues north on the Canal Albert, along the west side of the island. Through traffic to northern Belgium or into the Netherlands follows Canal Albert. An alternate excursion can be made by using Canal Monsin to the Basse Meuse, then back to the Canal Albert through the Haccourt-ViséCanal. See the map on the next page. KM approx R 115.5R 116.0R 116.0R R L L 125.1L L 125.5L Feature Name Lock Description/Operator/Comments Height Ports code: Electric-Water-Toilets-Showers-Laundry-Fuel junction canal Canal Albert Pont Marexhe Height >5.0m barge basin barge basin junction canal Canal de Monsin 800m connection to Basse Meuse river lock Monsin m X 16m tel Pont de Milsaucy Height >5.0m railway bridge Height >5.0m junction Basse Meuse river Pont de Wandre Height >5.0m modern suspension bridge A3 autoroute very high, wide bridge, 4-lane highway island Use right-bank channel for through passage Rampe du Pont Height >5.0m boat club Visé Nautical Club tel no facilities but close to shops and cafes island Ile Robinson Use right-bank channel for through passage N618 Height >5.0m junction canal Haccourt-Visé canal port Visé Port de Plaisance Visé tel portdevise@skynet.be E/W/T/S railway bridge Height >5.0m /dam N602/Barrage Lixhe End of navigable Basse Meuse in Belgium

70 Liège - Maastricht Details For best viewing of this map, use the Adobe Reader tools to enlarge the page. Port des Yachts Liège Belgium Barrage Monsin Ile de Monsin Wandre Lock (écluse) Weir (barrage) Marina/moorings Canal de Monsin Canal Albert Basse Meuse Haccourt-Visé Canal Haccourt Visé Barrage Lixhe Canal de Lanaye Lanaye Eijsden Albertkanaal Maastricht Briegden Lanaken Briegden-Neeharen Smeermaas Kanaal Maas Julianakanaal Neerharen Rekem Zuid Willemsvaart ) km Netherlands Traveling betwen the cities of Liège and Maastricht can be confusing, especially as most charts and guidebooks show the waterways of either Belgium or the Netherlands, but not both on the same map. The above map should help. The direct through-route northbound, starting at Liège, is via the Meuse, which flows directly into the Canal Albert at Ile de Monsin. Leave the Canal Albert on the Canal de Lanaye and rejoin the Basse Meuse through Maastricht, then travel into NL on the Julianakanaal. Or reverse this route when southbound. To travel into central or northern Belgium, continue on the Albertkanaal or join the Zuidwillemsvaart at Maastricht. For a pleasant rural route, bypass the industrial Canal Albert via the short stretch of the Basse Meuse; this may be a good place to moor and visit the smaller town of Visé rather than mooring in one of the large cities; shops are nearby.

71 Liège/Luik: This is a historic but also a very industrial city. The Albertkanaal was built for the purpose of bringing large ships from the sea at Antwerpen directly to the industries of Liége, and apparently it has worked out well, for there is a large volume of heavy barges and ships using the route and it is now Europe s third largest river port. But the port authority has also provided a pleasure-boat jachthaven in the heart of the city, Port des Yachts, convenient to pedestrian streets and market squares. A busy highway runs past the haven and nearby buildings are not very handsome, but on the left bank, a short walk north from the haven, are the city center and the Le Carré district, the lively nightlife center of Liège. Liège jachthaven Across either the Pont Kennedy bridge or La Passerelle footbridge is the Outremeuse section of the city, an area od narrow passageways, cafes and interesting shops. It was the birthplace of Georges Simenon, the author of the Maigret mysteries; a walking route through the district is marked by Simenon brass discs. The bridges of Liège are brightly lit in a variety of colors, a modern gesture in an old city. The entrance to the yacht basin is marked by the sculpture Le Plangeur

72 Huy: The city of Huy, halfway between Liège and Namur, is part of the sillon industriel (French for "industrial valley"). Heavy industry, including steelmaking, is prevalent near Liège, with smaller industries spread along both sides of the river to Huy. West from Huy the banks of the river become more open and wooded, with a series of small towns and quarries. The city of Huy itself is picturesque and peaceful, a worthwhile stop; there are two jachthavens on the left bank, across an historic and very handsome stone-arch bridge. The photos below are from the fortress which dominates the city and the river. The fortress was contructed in 1818 where during the Middle Ages there was a feudal castle. It was built to protect Holland's territories against attack by the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Occuped by the Germans during both WWI and WWII, the fortress did not have a military role during the hostilities. Rather, during the first world war, the fortress was a disciplinary prison for German soldiers who were dissenters against the war. During WWII, the fortress was once more a prison for German civilian, intellectual and political prisoners. Nowadays, the fortress is considered as a memorial and it is possible to visit it. A museum dedicated to the concentration camps and to the local resistance was created to show the difficult life in the Nazi camps and how the resistance operated in the area of Huy. It is possible to visit the fortress and museum between May and the first week of October. The river Meuse at Huy, looking east The river Meuse at Huy, looking west

73 Namur Namur, located at the junction of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, is the largest city in, and capital of, Wallonie. Its most notable features are the hilltop Citadel and the Pont de Jambes, both shown here.

74 Namur Because of its strategic location of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, Namur's history goes way back. It was originally settled by the Celts then by the Romans. The Counts of Namur built a castle overlooking the confluence that was later taken over by the French. Then the Dutch moved in and razed and rebult the fort. In WWI the theoretically impregnable fortress was taken in three days by the Germans and the town suffered major damage during WWII. Now, even though it's not Wallonia's largest city, it is home to the regional government. The castle is commonly called the Citadel. This is the junction of the Sambre and Meuse Rivers; above, the Sambre branches west under the bridge. Left, a photo from the citadel; the Sambre is hidden by the trees at the row of parked cars.

75 Dinant is spread along the river Meuse at the foot of a 100-meter cliff, topped by the Citadel. It is a popular stop, although sometimes overcrowded with land-bound tourists. Moorings are at the quay on the right bank, adjacent to the city center, and on the left bank, north of the bridge.

76 Spectacular rock cliffs line the Meuse from Dinant into France. To appreciate the scale, notice the climber (in red circle)!

77 Moorings south of Dinant Simple, quiet and peaceful moorings are available between Dinant and the French border. Yacht Club d Anseremme Yacht Club d Anseremme is just 4 km (and one lock) south of Dinant, in a very beautiful and isolated setting. The D-shaped basin is entered under an arched bridge; the village, with a choice of two restaurants, is a short walk away. This is a good choice close to Dinant for those wanting quiet and privacy. Waulsort port de plaisance, 10 km south of Dinant, is on the open river, where current may be a problem. A cable ferry for pedestrians (seen in the photo) offers access to the town, which boasts three restaurants, including La Gourmandine, along with some shops. The last stop in Belgium is the quay on the left bank between the Heer bridge and the border. No services but again some retaurants and shops, plus the skipper could walk to the French lock, Écluse 4 Cheminées, to purchase a cruising permit if not already in hand. Pont de Heer, photo looking north from the French border Waulsort port de plaisance

78 Charleroi: Sometimes called the Capital of the Black Country for the coal, glass and iron industries of the area. One EuroCanals reader wrote...through the unfortunate Charleroi, one of the worst industrial wastelands I have recently seen (I have seen a few, Almaty Kazakhstan, Murmansk, etc...) The center of the city may be of some interest, but there are no nearby moorings to recommend. Barge owners often head for the shipyard at Pont-de-Loup for repairs and maintenance. Not far east from Charleroi on the river Sambre, it is in one of the most depressing and rundown areas of French-speaking Wallonie, Pont-de-Loup with its dioxine-laden atmosphere, constant sooty rain and black oily water is not somewhere anyone would ever choose to visit without a good reason, such as barge service.

79 The Boatlifts Boatlifts of various designs are used on some European waterways, to replace a series of closely-spaced locks. Belgium boasts two very impressive lifts, at Ronquières and at Strépy-Thieu. The two boatlifts are the connections between the low country of Flanders and the higher, hilly Wallonie region, the watershed of the Meuse.These significant engineering achievements are even a tourist attraction for non-boaters. The inclined plane of Ronquières, on the Canal de Charleroi à Bruxelles (in the Petites Ardennes of the Wallonie region, just north of the eastern end of the Canal du Centre), was built in the 1960s. Its two tanks can each hold a 1350-ton barge, or several smaller vessels; the tanks are not counterweights for each other, concrete and cast iron counterweights allow each tank to operate independently. The inclined-plane ramp climbs to the south, replacing 19 conventional locks. The ramp is 1432 meters long and rises 68 meters, a 4.7% grade. The trip is accomplished in forty minutes. At the top, vessels enter a canal bridge 300 meters long to reach the higher land at the summit of the canal. The lifting work is done by electric motors, however some of the energy is recovered by passing the flow of water from the upsteam canal through hydroelectric turbines, since it is not needed to operate a normal lock system. Included in the facilities at Ronquières is a tower 150 meters tall, open for tourist viewing of the surrounding countryside. From this tower it is possible to see the vertical boatlift at Strépy-Thieu, only thirteen kilometers away (straightline) on the Canal du Centre. After twenty years of construction, the futuristic-looking structure at Strépy-Thieu opened for traffic in September 2002, replacing four aged (late 19th century) hydraulic boatlifts and two locks. Each 8000-ton tub is lifted by cables 73 meters straight up in eight minutes. If this were accomplished by a series of normal locks, say at 3 meters each, it would require about 24 locks! Strépy-Thieu is located near the western end of the New Centre Canal, built from 1982 to 2002 to upgrade the cross- Belgium route from a capability of handling 300-ton barges to EU-standard 1350-ton barges. A 7.24 kilometer section of the original canal was bypassed, primarily because of the limitations of four hydraulic boatlifts constructed between This section, including the boatlifts, is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like the Eiffel Tower, the four historic boatlifts were built using a riveted-iron skeletal structure. The lifts utilize bargesize tanks in pairs; each tank counterbalances the other. A water-driven mechanism is used to create a pressure difference, causing one tank to fall as the other rises. The Historic canal has been reopened after being closed at Ascenseur 4 for several years due to an accident which damaged the structure and destroyed a commercial barge.

80 Strepy-Thieu ascenseur Canal de Centre, Belgium Bypasses 1 lock & 4 aged boatlifts

81 There are two tanks, however each tank works independently. These boats are entering the west tank.

82 Boats enter and tie up in the tank, then the overhead gate is lowered to seal the tank.

83 The tank is lifted by multiple cables attached to counterweights. Counterweight

84 Looking southwest from the top. Looking back, exiting northeast bound. The Porte de Garde, located 5.2 km upstream, is lowered at night as security for the boatlift.

85 Canal du Centre between Mons and Seneffe offers a choice of time travel: 19th century or 21st century. The original canal was created in 1888 and completed in 1919 using four hydraulic boatlifts (ascenseurs) built of riveted steel, based on the design previously used at Anderton, England. Each lift has two bacs (steel basins) 40.8m X 5.2m to lift or lower boats 15 to 17 meters. In 2002 the four lifts and one conventional lock of the old canal were supplemented by the new channel with a 73 meter single lift. It isn t necessary to make a choice; you can follow either route or, if you have the time you can choose to circle through both sections. The new section is faster and quite exciting because of the height of the lift. The old section will take much longer as cruisers enjoy the drawbridges and swing bridges, the houses and buildings, as well as the beautiful trees which shade the walking paths alongside the canal. Historic canal New canal Ascenseurs 1-4 Fixed bridge Opening bridge Railway bridge (abandoned) Footbridge mooring no junction Autoroute A7 Mons-Brussels Thieu Ascenseur Strépy-Thieu A4 Yacht Club des Ascenseurs Strépy- Bracquegnies A3 A2 Salle des Machines Houdang-Goegnies km Autoroute A15 Liège A1 La Louvière factory barge basin

86 These photos show the westernmost lift, A4. The first of the opening bridges can be seen in the far distance of the photo below. These old bridges add to the charm of this route. The first two (from the west) are lifting drawbridges; the second pair are swinging bridges, pivoting on the centerpoint. To request opening call ascenseur A3: Just a bit west of A2 is the Salle des Machines, the machine room for A2 & A3 (A1 & A2 each have their own operating equipment.) Two redbrick towers make this a striking building; guided tours are available. Moorings are available along the bank nearby. There are shops, fuel and a weekly market on Monday at the village Strépy- Bracquegnies, just north of the mooring. Leaks around the door of the tank are sealed the old-fashioned way, with dried peat! Photos courtesy Ruud de Boer

87 Ronquières plan incliné Charleroi-Brussels Canal, Belgium Replaced 14 locks The distinctive tower column is for operators and tourists only; it has nothing to do with the mechanism.

88 Recreational boats waiting to enter one of the two tanks, as a 1350-ton barge exits.

89 The tank rides on railroad wheels down a 1.5 km slope. It is counterbalanced by sliding weights. The vertical descent is 70 meters.

90 For complete details on both the Strepy-Thieu and Ronquiéres boatlifts, go to:

91 Cruising Guide & Charts Inland Waterways of Belgium by Jacqueline and Arthur Jones ISBN: Softbound, A4 size, 170 pages Published 2005 by Imray, UK This is an excellent book and the advantage is that it covers ALL of Belgium and has an overall chart map included. Many photos and personal comments are included, based on a season-long tour of all waterways in their own motorcruiser. Fluviacarte #23: BELGIQUE (New Edition November 2013) This is not one of the usual chart/guidebooks published by Navicarte/Fluviacarte and familiar to many canal travelers. It is a poster-style chart of the whole of Belgium, 988mm wide (39 inches) by 668mm high (25 inches), scale 1/250,000. Data on reverse side in French/English/German. All canals and rivers are shown, with full dimensional data and the approximate location of each lock. Very useful for route planning, less so for detailed navigation. It is available through nautical book shops and chandleries in Belgium, France and Holland, or online at: For PC/Android: Stentec DKW Vaarkaart België (New Edition November 2013) Digital charts of Belgian waterways (for PC) is now available on dvd or as a download (1.2 GB). It a Stentec Hybrid chart for WinGPS 5 (Windows) and Stentec Navigation App (Android). The color scheme has been completely changed so that it now corresponds to the colors of DKW Vaarkaart Nederland. Sources for the chart are: NGI for topographic underground, OSM for names, RWS for North Sea, IENC Vlaanderen for details. The overview chart with a scale of 20 m/pixel is best used for orientation and to find the names and the water ways. For accurate navigation you may best use the detailed chart with a scale of 2 m/pixel. It contains no less than 14.5 billion pixels with details such as locks and bouyage. The scale on screen is about 1:

92 Self-skippered Rental Boat Operators It is easy to rent a boat (15 meters or less) for a cruise of one, two or more weeks on the waterways of Belgium. A brief checkout of the boat and a lesson at the base, perhaps followed by accompaniment for a short portion of the trip, will acquaint the skipper and crew with the operation of the boat and the rules of the road for the waterways to be traveled. Once underway, the skipper is in full control of the itinerary. Each day of travel can be as short or as long as desired, with stops for dining, sightseeing, and overnight stays usually decided as you go. The only limits are the schedule of locks that must be passed through and the need to return the boat at the agreed place and time. The major company that offers rentals in Belgium (as of 2011) is Le Boat. The website is comprehensive and is itself a guide to the waterways of Belgium; you will find photos and descriptions of the available boats as well as booking information. LeBoat operates from bases at Gent and at Nieuwpoort. These are good locations, as it allows multiple choices along pleasant waterways with potential visits to Brugge, Gent, Oudenaarde, Kortrijk, Ieper and Veurne, either on a one-way or round trip. Use the map in this guide and make plans! In Gent the Le Boat base is located at Portus Ganda Jachthaven in the center of the city on the Leie river. In 2014 a new company, Bboat yachtcharter, has opened two bases in Belgium, at Kuurne (Kortrijk) and Ypres, offering the highly-respected Linssen steel yachts for cruises throughout Flanders. Rentals are also available on the spectacular section of the Meuse river, in the Ardennes mountains. A satellite base of the company Ardennes Nautisme is located at Anseremme, south of Dinant. Contact the main base in France, at Pont-à-Bar: ardennes-nautisme.com