Flemish Minister of Mobility, Public Works and Ports, Annick De Ridder (N-VA), visited the Flemish waterways management agency's remote control centre in Hasselt on Friday.
The centre is one of three control hubs that will handle all movable bridges, sluices, weirs and other structures on navigable waterways in Flanders by 2032. Currently, 330 movable structures along such waterways are operated from various local control centres.
Since last year, all structures in Greater Ghent and the Leie are managed from a remote control centre in Evergem. Locks along the Albert Canal recently started being operated from the Hasselt centre, and from 1 January 2027, the third remote control centre, in Willebroek, will be operational.
“Remote control will make inland navigation more efficient and allow future digital water management from basin or catchment level,” Vlaamse Waterweg CEO Krista Maes explained.
Minister De Ridder observed the operation of various sluices from the Hasselt control centre during her visit. “The three remote control centres will play a crucial role in improving the logistics chain and enhancing the reliability of inland navigation,” she said.
The transition to the three centres is not expected to affect jobs, according to Vlaamse Waterweg, which says it will use its staff and infrastructure more efficiently and offer proactive, data-driven traffic management.
The agency intends to introduce a special app for recreational boating next year. This will allow users to plot their trips in advance and request lock operations on their route.
