Water gate

The Water Gate, also known as Porta Regia or Coninckxpoort, was constructed in 1624 as a kind of triumphal arch for Philip IV of Spain, see the inscription on the west side, and as a city gate, see the inscription on the east side. It replaced the earlier 'Maeyersgat' in order to open up the Vlasmarkt and was thus integrated on the sides. In 1883-84, following the works on the Scheldekaaien, the gate was moved to the now-covered Sint-Jansvliet, where it stood completely free. In 1933, as a consequence of the works on the Scheldt Tunnel, it was once again dismantled to be re-erected in 1936 at Gillisplaats. In 1963-64 it was cleaned. The design of the gate is - probably rightly - attributed to P.P. Rubens; the names of the craftsmen of the sculpted decor of the gate are known from archival documents: they were Huybrecht van den Eynde (1594-1661 or 1662) and Hans van Mildert (1585-1638).

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