Port History
In the 6th Century, a fortified castle was built on an island in the Senne River. In the 7th Century, a settlement called Bruocsella appeared there. By the 12th Century, the settlement had become a market surrounded by defensive walls, towers, and fortified gateways.
From the 12th to 14th Centuries, The Port of Brussels evolved into a major town that prospered from the export of fine fabrics. The fabric industry spawned seven dynasties that dominated the city, leading to popular revolts that continued to the early 18th Century. In the 14th Century, the town was occupied briefly by troops of the Count of Flanders, prompting construction of huge fortified walls that survived into the 19th Century.
During the 15th Century, The Port of Brussels became a center for art, culture, and administration. Craftsmen's products were exported everywhere, and the town undertook beautification and construction of the Town Hall, Gothic churches and cathedrals, and the Coudenberg Palace. By the middle of the 16th Century, a canal was dug linking the Port of Brussels providing access to Antwerp and the North Sea. The Willebroek Canal led to continued commercial development of the area.
The Port of Brussels was involved in the 16th Century Reformation. The city was ruled by Calvinists from 1578 to 1585 when what is now Belgium separated from the Netherlands and returned to the Roman Catholic Church. In the latter 17th Century, Louis XIV of France invaded the region several times, and in 1695, heavy bombardment destroyed hundreds of buildings.
By the last half of the 18th Century, the Port of Brussels was a financial and industrial center. Urban planning created the Place Royale and Brussels Park. In 1790, France annexed Belgian principalities, and Brussels?political status was significantly reduced. When Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, The Netherlands was created. The Port of Brussels shared the status of capital with The Hague. The city walls were demolished, and the Brussels-Charleroi Canal was dug.
Belgium revolted and won independence in 1830, and Brussels became its capital. By 1846, more than 120 thousand people lived there, and the Port of Brussels gained importance as an economic and financial center and as a hub for road and rail transportation.
During World Wars I and II, Germany occupied Belgium. In 1932, the Port of Brussels became a bilingual city, with Dutch and French as the official languages. Today, Brussels is truly an international city. The European Economic Community (EEC) Commission headquartered there in 1958, and NATO's headquarters were established there in 1967. In the 1980s, the EEC became the European Union and expanded, and Brussels has hosted many of its organizations. NATO expanded in the 1990s, and Brussels important role in European affairs continues.
Port Commerce
Today, the Port of Brussels is Belgium's second largest inland port, and it can accommodate ships of 4500 tons. Each year 7.5 million tons of cargo move through the Port of Brussels, and the city is an important supply and distribution center for the surrounding region. Its accessibility has earned it the status of a seaport. It can be reached 24 hours a day throughout the year. The port has an ice breaker that guarantees the port is open throughout the winter.
Cruising and Travel
The Port of Brussels?canals can only accommodate river ships that dock at either Heembeekkaai or the Becodock. Both ports are within city limits, but only the Becodock is within walking distance of downtown. Cruise ships dock in Antwerp or Zeebrugge, and travelers reach the Port of Brussels by train.
