Zelzatebrug, Bascule bridge in Zelzate, Belgium

Zelzatebrug is a double bascule bridge over the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal in Zelzate, carrying four lanes of the R4 ring road. Its two 21-metre-wide steel box-girder leaves, each 31 metres from pivot to tip, give a 62-metre span between two concrete approach bridges, for a total length of about 165 metres. The yellow counterweight housing on the right leaf bears the bridge's name and a sign reading "VHF 11".

The canal through Zelzate was dug in the 1820s to link Ghent with Terneuzen, and repeated widening moved its bed about 150 m west in 1894 and again about 500 m west in the 1960s. The present bascule bridge opened in 1968 as one of three large bridges built over the new canal, together with two swing bridges on the Dutch side.

The bridge sits in an area shaped by steelmaking and shipping, showing how water routes and factories have defined local life and work. Its location reveals why this region developed around industry and water transport.

The bridge opens about 20 times daily for ships, with each opening lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which can cause delays for road traffic. Planning a visit around these regular interruptions is helpful, especially if you need to cross the area by car.

The bridge is the designated route for trucks carrying hazardous materials, as the nearby tunnel cannot handle such traffic for safety reasons. This special role makes it a critical link for dangerous cargo transport in the region.