| Ghent–Terneuzen Canal | |
|---|---|
 Map of the canal region | |
 Interactive map of Ghent–Terneuzen Canal | |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 32 km |
| Maximumboat length | 265 m (869 ft) |
| Maximumboat beam | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Minimum boat draft | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) |
| History | |
| Construction began | 1823 |
| Date completed | 1827 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Ghent,Belgium |
| End point | Westerschelde (Scheldt) AtTerneuzen,Netherlands |
TheGhent–Terneuzen Canal (Dutch: Kanaal van Gent naar Terneuzen), also known as the "Sea Canal" (Zeekanaal) is acanal linkingGhent inBelgium to theport ofTerneuzen on theWesterschelde (Scheldt)Estuary in theNetherlands, thereby providing the former with better access to thesea.
The canal was constructed between 1823 and 1827 on the initiative ofthe Dutch King: Belgium (as it subsequently became) and the Netherlands had becomea united country under the terms agreed at theCongress of Vienna. AfterBelgium broke away in 1830, traffic to and from Belgium was blocked by the Dutch until 1841.
Between 1870 and 1885, the canal was enlarged to a depth of six and a half metres at its centre, and to a width of 17 metres at its base and 68 metres at the surface level: bridges being rebuilt accordingly along the Belgian sector.
The famousCluysen - Ter Donck Regatta was organised here for many decades (1888-1954)and during the1913 Expo of Ghent theEuropean Rowing Championships took place on the canal.
Further development and major enlargement took place during the subsequent century, most notably during the early 1960s.
In February 2015, Flanders and the Netherlands signed a treaty for the construction of a new lock at Terneuzen, scheduled for completion in 2021 and costing €920M.[1] The new lock is about the same size as those of the contemporaneousexpansion project of thePanama Canal.[1]
Today the Ghent-Terneuzen canal is 200 metres wide and 32 kilometers (20 mi) long, capable of accommodating ships of up to 125 000 gross tonnage. The largest permitted vessel size has increased, correspondingly, to 265 metres long x 34 metres wide, with a draught of up to 12.5 metres.
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ghent–Terneuzen Canal" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
51°08′48″N3°46′57″E / 51.1466°N 3.78239°E /51.1466; 3.78239
 | ThisEast Flanders location article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
