New name for Terneuzen lock complex: Noordzeesluizen (North Sea Locks)
The name North Sea Locks underlines the connection between the port of Ghent and Terneuzen and the adjacent sea area. Moreover, the name fits in well with port company North Sea Port. In fact, North Sea Locks provide optimal access for the merger port North Sea Port (Ghent, Terneuzen and Flushing) to sea and inland waters.
From an international point of view, the North Sea Locks will be located in the port area North Sea Port.
The name was announced by the political college of the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Commission, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Mark Harbers and the Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works, Lydia Peeters. They did so during a working visit to the Nieuwe Sluis/New Lock.
Nieuwe Sluis remains Nieuwe Sluis (New Lock)
It was the naming committee that chose the new name. The committee also decided to maintain the names Oostsluis (East Lock), Westsluis (West Lock) and Nieuwe Sluis (New Lock) for the individual locks of the complex. The naming committee was chaired by the mayor of Terneuzen, Erik van Merrienboer. The other members are Mathias De Clercq (mayor of Ghent), Daan Schalck (CEO North Sea Port) and Willy Dekker (chief engineer-director Rijkswaterstaat Zee and Delta).
Website for opening of Nieuwe Sluis/New Lock
With the disclosure of the name North Sea Locks, the website www.noordzeesluizen.eu was launched. This website will be used to announce activities, festivities and news surrounding the opening of the Nieuwe Sluis/New Lock in the autumn of 2024. This lock will be built within the existing lock complex, on the site of the former Middensluis/Middle Lock. Work began back in 2017 on behalf of the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Commission.
The Nieuwe Sluis/New Lock will allow larger ocean-going vessels to sail to the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal as far as Ghent. It will also increase the locks’ capacity and reduce waiting time for barges. The improved accessibility of the port will create new economic activities in the Zeeland-Flemish region. This will support employment in the Netherlands and Flanders.
