Belgium’s Industrial Masterpieces: The Canal du Centre Boat Lifts

UNESCO Sites in Belgium: The Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre and their Environs, La Louvière and Le Roeulx (Hainaut) (visited 08/2024)

Aug 20, 2024

Lift no. 2 Houdeng-Aimeries (source: Adobe Express Stock Gallery)

I originally published this text as Engineering Wonders in Wallonia: The Canal du Centre Lifts on the Medium platform.

Belgium is famous for its medieval towns and Renaissance architecture; however, it is also home to remarkable achievements in industrial engineering. Among these are boat lifts on the Canal du Centre ― of the eight hydraulic boat lifts constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these four lifts are the only ones in the world that remain fully operational in their original condition.

I visited the Hainaut region this August (2024) and will share my experience, impressions and practical information.

Canal du Centre (source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/856/©M&G_Therin-Weise)

About the site

The Canal du Centre’s boat lifts in the province of Hainaut were instrumental in navigating the significant elevation changes of the canal, linking the Meuse and Scheldt rivers.

The four boat lifts were constructed and opened between 1888 and 1917 to address a significant 66.2-meter difference in elevation throughout just 7 kilometres. Four hydraulic lifts, each using water displacement to operate, allowed for the continuous transportation of boats up to 300 tonnes, and are unique for being the only ones of their kind still functioning in their original form (swing bridges, lifts etc.).

The area surrounding the lifts was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, recognizing both their engineering significance and the role they played in the region's industrial development. Today, the canal is used for leisure navigation.

Map with the lifts (source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/)

Lift no. 1: Houdeng-Gœgnies is the oldest of the four boat lifts as it was built between 1885 and 1888. Its rise is 15,40 m.

Lift no. 1: Houdeng-Gœgnies (source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/©Willem123)

Lift no. 2: Houdeng-Aimeries has a rise of 16,93 and was built between 1888 and 1911.

Lift no. 2: Houdeng-Aimeries (source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/856/©KoHonChiuVincent)

Lift no. 3: Strépy-Bracquegnies has a rise of 16,93m just like no. 2, and was built 1888 and 1919.

Lift no. 3: Strépy-Bracquegnies (Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/©Trougnouf_Benoit_Brummer)

Lift no. 4: Thieu also has a rise of 16,93 m, and was built between 1911 and 1917.

Lift no. 4: Thieu (source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/856/©M&G_Therin-Weise)

Lift no. 4: Thieu (photo taken by the author)

The Strépy-Thieu boat lift

This lift, with a height difference of 73,15 m between the upstream and downstream sections, is the tallest in Europe.

Although not included in the UNESCO listing, it represents a unique engineering feat and a significant advancement over the four historic lifts, required by modern navigation requirements. Located on a branch of the Canal du Centre in Le Rœulx, Hainaut, it was constructed between 1982 and 2002 to accommodate the new European standard of 1,350 tonnes for barge traffic. It was the world’s tallest boat lift until the completion of the Three Gorges Dam ship lift in China in January 2016.

Strépy-Thieu boat lift (photo taken by the author)

Strépy-Thieu boat lift (source: https://visitwallonia.com/)

I visited this lift during transfers of 2 different vessels: the lift itself takes only 6 minutes and is made possible using huge weights of 7200 - 8400 tonnes, 112 suspension cables and 32 control cables. The vertically moving watertight gates are designed to withstand a 5 km/h impact from a 2000-tonne vessel. Don’t these numbers seem mind-blowing? They are 😊

In the picture below you can see the lowered weights and an almost lifted vessel.

Practical information for travellers

These boat lifts can be visited anytime, really. However, if you want to enter the Strepy-Thieu Museum, you need to check their hours and the ticket price. The exhibition is an informative introduction to the live boat lift, the only problem for a visitor is that the lifts can’t be predicted.

From the list of the four historical lifts I visited only lift no. 4, and although there was no action, I liked it a lot because of its original passage for vehicles.

We visited these by car, but in this area of Belgium everything is approachable by bicycle, so that is a recommendation.

I’m also sharing a post on some WW1 sites in western Belgium: