2025 marks forty years since the largest vessels began using the Pierre Vandamme Lock to access Zeebrugge’s inner port. It has since become a vital part of the port’s expansion and daily operations.
The port of Zeebrugge sustained significant damage during World War II. A long-serving mayor of Bruges, Pierre Vandamme significantly contributed to the reshaping of the port. His efforts proved successful, as the port underwent meteoric expansion by the end of the 1960s. The current Visart Lock is simply too small for the increasingly large vessels navigating these waters. A new, larger lock is needed to ready Zeebrugge's inner port for the future.
In 1985, the new lock officially opens
The project for Zeebrugge's largest lock was named after Pierre Vandamme. Construction work began in 1972. In these historic photos, the work has been underway for a year. In 1985, the time finally came: the lock officially opened. With a length of 500 metres, a width of 57 metres and a water depth of up to 18.5 metres, the Pierre Vandammel Lock has since effortlessly received the largest ro-ro ships in the world - ships that often carry thousands of cars at once.
After four decades of intensive use, the Pierre Vandammel Lock is due for a thorough renovation. Together with the Flemish government, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is working on plans to prepare the lock for the future. In doing so, we’re making sure this vital access point to the inner harbour remains dependable for the next 40 years.
