Strépy-Thieu boat lift

World's biggest counterweighted lift offers beautiful green alternative

Centrally located in the heart of the Belgian province Hainaut (Wallony) is the world’s highest counterweighted lift: the boat lift Strépy-Thieu. The lift lies in the Canal du Centre on the border of Strépy-Bracquegnies and Thieu, thus getting its double name Strépy-Thieu. The Canal du Centre is part of a civil engineering transport structure which, also thanks to the boat lift, the inland waterway shipping provides a completely green alternative for the congested roads.

Gigantic
The giant Strépy-Thieu boat lift is 150 metres high and overcomes a 73,15 m height difference. In this lift 1350 ton barges quickly can cover this height difference. The lift replaces two sluices and four small historical boat lifts, which are currently listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Strépy-Thieu boat lift also symbolises the knowhow of 20th and 21st Belgian civil engineering.

Natural landscaping
Nursery Udenhout covered the green hills surrounding the boat lift, as well as the area alongside the canal. Consistent with a metric system Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ were planted on the banks. Above the canal Franxinus pennsylvanica ‘Bergenson’ were planted and most recently Nursery Udenhout supplied all plantations for the park beneath the Sart canal bridge in La Louvière. Alongside the busy main roads Acer platanoides ‘Cleveland’ were planted.

Trees chosen for this project:
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