Kieldrecht Lock in Antwerp Becomes the Largest Lock in the World

The Kieldrecht Lock in Antwerp has officially opened, marking a major improvement in access to the Waasland Porton the left bank of the Scheldt. Until now, this part of the port could only be reached via the Kallo Lock, which was too small and heavily overused. This led to congestion, delays, and safety concerns for container ships. As a result, some shipping lines had already chosen to avoid using the Kallo Lock.

Tenth Lock and a Global Record

The Kieldrecht Lock is 500 meters long, just like the Berendrecht Lock on Antwerp's right bank, which previously held the title of the world’s largest lock. However, the new lock is 4 meters deeper at 17.8 meters, making it capable of handling ever-larger vessels—a key requirement in today’s shipping industry.

At a cost of €382 million, the Kieldrecht Lock becomes the tenth lock in the Port of Antwerp. Two older locks, the Zuidersluis and the Bonapartesluis, have since been decommissioned and filled in.