Astene sas

It used to take 8 hours to sail the large Leiemeander between Astene and Bachte

In 1861 it was decided to dig a passage of 100 meters to save about 5 km in bends. This weir and a lock were built on the small piece of 'canalised' Leie. It served to regulate the water levels of the Leie. This was important for shipping and agriculture in the region.

Note the lock construction with wooden doors, the riveted T-shaped drawbridge and the weir.

The lock is still operated manually during the pleasure boating season. The lock master used to live in one of the two lock master houses, also from 1860. This way, supervision of the lock and its operation was permanently guaranteed. Achilles Vanderlinden, the grandfather of author Hugo Claus, was security guard there.

The whole 'sas and houses' is an excellently preserved example of a composite work of art from the second half of the 19th century. One of the houses now houses a small museum run by the non-profit organization Historical Vessels.

Manually operated locks (5.40 meters wide, 42.20 meters long) with preserved wooden lock doors with cross reinforcement and wooden lifting valves. Demarcated lock wall.

Willem Vandenameele