A cannon has been recovered from the River Scheldt in Antwerp during dredging work related to the “Oosterweel” project, the port city announced on Monday.
The cannon is believed to be from the Napoleonic era, but its presence in the river remains a mystery.
The discovery occurred during dredging works between the Sint-Annabos on the Left Bank and Oosterweel, an old polder village, on the Right Bank. The navigation channel is being temporarily relocated for the construction of a new tunnel under the River Scheldt, which requires the removal of a significant amount of silt.
Archaeologists are closely monitoring the work and can now investigate this major find. The cannon is a 36-pounder from the late 18th century, used by the French Army under Napoleon. It bears an anchor symbol, indicative of the standard models of the French military fleet.
The Napoleonic era cannon was extracted while digging for a new tunnel under the Scheldt. Credit: Lantis
Napoleon had a significant influence on the port and city of Antwerp, which he considered strategically important. Bart De Wever, the current mayor, calls him the "father of Antwerp’s renaissance" and expressed excitement about this tangible reminder of his presence.
"He laid the foundations for Antwerp’s revival as a commercial metropolis and global port," said the mayor. "However, in practice, Napoleon’s ambitious plans were largely military. He built a substantial military fleet aimed at breaking the Continental Blockade imposed by the British Navy on continental Europe."
The cannon will now be carefully cleaned and studied. After restoration, it will be put on display.
