Feel the cool stone beneath your feet. This is Oude Sluis Menen. A marvel of engineering. It stands as a testament to a bygone era. These are not just locks. They are witnesses to history.
Oude Sluis Menen once played a vital role. It connected France and Belgium. Ships carrying 300 tons of goods sailed through these very locks. Grain and coal flowed freely. A customs office stood opposite. This was a key border crossing.
But the Second World War brought destruction. On April 28 1944 the Special Operations Executive a British organization sabotaged the locks. They were following orders from the Allied high command. A commemorative plaque remembers the brave resisters. Two parachutists also participated. The plaque salutes the fallen heroes.
The old locks lost their economic significance in 1990. The Leie river was rerouted. An artificial island now sits between the old and new channels. A footbridge now spans the Oude Sluis Menen. Cyclists and pedestrians use it. It offers access to the Leie island park. A small marina and flag square add life. The locks now form a gentle link. Menen and Halluin are connected. Flanders and Northern France stand united.
Examine the locks carefully. Notice the arduin stone. The lock gate is 42.3 meters long 5.4 meters wide and 2.35 meters deep. The wooden doors still survive. They are operated by gears and cogs. The sluice gates were manually operated with cranks. A former control building stands opposite. It’s built from red brick.
Walk across the bridge. Imagine the bustling activity of yesteryear. Imagine the ships passing through. Imagine the customs officers working. Imagine the sounds of the river.
Today Oude Sluis Menen stands as a symbol of peaceful connection. It is a reminder of resilience. A monument to collaboration. A place to reflect and remember. It stands as a silent guardian. A link between two nations. A testament to human ingenuity and endurance. The history of Oude Sluis Menen is etched in its stone. Its story continues to unfold before your eyes.