Royerssluis

The Royers Lock (Royerssluis) is a major tidal lock in the Port of Antwerp that provides access to the docks on the right bank of the Scheldt as well as to the Albert Canal. Construction began in 1893 and was completed in 1908 to handle growing ship traffic and the increasing size of ocean liners, as the existing Bonaparte and Kattendijk locks were no longer sufficient. The structure is named after Antwerp's city architect Gustaaf Royers. At 180 meters long and 22 meters wide, it is now of interest mainly to inland vessels. An architectural highlight are the three steel sliding gates, which disappear on roller systems into the side walls and are secured by water ballast. It was the first lock of its kind to use electric motors to operate its gates. Two bridges, the Royersbrug and the Lefèbvrebrug, cross the facility and keep road traffic moving even while the lock is in operation. Here you can watch a fascinating interplay of historic engineering and modern port operations.