Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre, Belgium

The Houdeng-Aimeries boat lift, Belgium
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Houdeng-Aimeries_-_Ascenseur_no_2_-_1.jpg
Author: LimoWreck


The four boat-lifts on the Canal du Centre, along with their environs, La Louviere and Le Roeulx, represents a remarkably well-preserved piece of late-19th-century industrial landscape in Belgium. The four lifts on Canal du Centre are the remainder of the original eight that were built in the late 19th and early 20th century. Along with the canal and its associated structures, the four lifts were inscribed as World Heritage Sites during the 22th session of the World Heritage Committee which met in Kyoto, Japan, on 30 November to 5 December, 1998.

The four boat lifts were celebrated as representing the apogee of the use of engineering technology in the building of canals.

The Houdeng-Goegnies boat lift
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Houdeng-Goegnies_JPG02.jpg
Author: Jean-Pol Grandmont

What to See in Four Lifts on the Canal du Centre

The four boat-lifts are locatged near the towns of La Louvière. They enable boats to travel the 7-km stretch of the Canal du Centre, which connects the Meuse river basin to the Schelt river basin. These two basins have a difference in height of 66.2 meters. The first of the boat lifts, with a height of 15.4 meters, was opened at Houdeng-Goegnies in 1988. The three other lifts were opened in 1917. They each have a rise of 16.93 meters.

The boat lifts as a pair of caissons. As one is filled with water and rises, the other discharges water and descends. They were designed by the British company of Clack, Stansfield & Clack.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 50 28 51.996 E 4 8 13.992
Inscription Year: 1998
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: III, IV

Getting there

The Canal du Centre is nearest to La Louvière. It is about 30 minutes by train from Brussels. If you are driving, take the E19 southbound from Brussels.

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