It looks impressive, the Zandvliet sluice: 500 metres long and 57 metres wide. Large enough for the huge container ships coming to unload in the port of Antwerp. The sluice was built in 1967 and, until 1988, it was the largest sea sluice in the world. Then the parallel Berendrecht sluice took over that title, and even later the Kieldrecht sluice. All here in Antwerp! The sluices shield the port from the tidal action of the sea. Behind the sluices, the water level remains constant.
