On Antwerp’s Left Bank, the Galgenweel was ceremoniously reopened on Sunday after six months of stabilisation work.
The reopening coincided with the annual water sports day, allowing athletes from various sailing clubs to test the revamped site. The Flemish Waterway began working on the quay walls and banks in early October last year. The Galgenweel, at 40 hectares, is the largest semi-natural brackish lake in Flanders, located next to and connected with the Scheldt River. The quay wall on the Scheldt side had become unstable, and the lake’s banks showed signs of cracking and erosion. Stabilisation work was crucial to ensure the site remained safe for the many sailors who use it and to maintain the area’s sustainability.
Flemish Minister of Mobility, Public Works, Ports, and Sport, Annick De Ridder (N-VA), attended the reopening. “The Galgenweel is a beautiful location for water sports in Antwerp,” she said. “The works were necessary so that athletes can safely enjoy the water in the coming years. Fortunately, everything was completed on time, allowing sailing to take place on the Galgenweel this spring.”
The project cost a total of €4.6 million.
