Royers Lock, Maritime lock in Port of Antwerp, Belgium
Royers Lock connects the Schelde River to the Albert Canal using a system of three large steel sliding gates that operate on rails. Two bridges span across the gate system, allowing both ships and road traffic to move through simultaneously.
The lock was built between 1893 and 1908 to handle the growing ship traffic in the port. Its construction reflected the port's increasing importance as an international trading center.
The lock is named after Gustaaf Royers, the city engineer who shaped Antwerp's infrastructure for many decades. Visitors can still see traces of this industrial era in the sturdy steel structure and the technical systems that operate the gates.
The lock complex is accessible from the harbor area, and the two bridges offer good vantage points to watch the gates operate. Walking along the canal promenade allows visitors to experience the facility from different angles.
The system features a third gate positioned about 100 meters from the lower gate, originally designed to speed up how quickly ships could pass through. This engineering solution remains uncommon in European lock systems today.
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