De Smet de Naeyerbruggen

The bridge structure spans over railway tracks, an old drainage canal to Bruges, and includes a drawbridge at the Demey sea lock.

Built between 1903 and 1905 under King Leopold II's initiative, the bridge was designed by architect Alban Chambon to expand Ostend's port infrastructure.

Bronze sculptures by Julien Dillens decorated the bridge before World War I, leading locals to nickname it 'Tettenbrug' due to the figures' bare-breasted design.

The fixed bascule section closed to traffic in 2002 due to heavy coastal route demands and now functions as a parking area.

German occupiers during World War I removed the bronze statues, bas-reliefs, and lion sculptures to melt them down for military equipment production.

Location: Ostend

Inception: 1905

GPS coordinates: 51.22556,2.92944

Latest update: May 27, 2025 17:44