Ooigem Triple Lock Gate

At this protected three-step lock, you get a good impression of what a 19th-century canal must have looked like. It is unique in Flanders and is still used for recreational boating.

In the 19th century, cargo transport by road is slow, expensive, and limited to what can be loaded onto a cart. This is a serious hindrance to the industrial revolution, as the new factories need reliable means of transport that can handle large volumes.

Therefore, rivers are soon canalized and canals constructed. Here in the Leie region as well: from 1861, inland vessels can navigate the Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal from the Scheldt to the Leie, and between 1863 and 1872, Roeselare is also connected to the Leie. At the mouth of the Leie, engineers build a three-step lock: the difference in height is too great to bridge in one go.

During the widening of the canal in the early 1970s, a large, modern lock is built that can raise ships to the desired level in one go. However, the old lock is preserved and has recently been restored. It is now used to let pleasure boats in and out of the canal when the large lock is closed.

What stands out particularly is how narrow the original canal was – particularly when you compare it to the current bed beside it. And besides the size, there is another major difference between the locks: the new one is built with concrete, while the three-step lock is made of brick and natural stone.

Author: Westtoer POIs

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