History of Sas van Gent
Because of the floods the Braakman reached its largest scope against the end of the Middle ages. The sea reached near Assenede and Axel. In 1494 the country dike of the four crafts industry was moored. The 25 Km long dike ran from Boekhoute to Terneuzen. The spot belonged then to the Asseneder craft and lay beside the Joos Hamerlincxlock. Later Sas van Gent rose on this spot.
Ghent wanted a better shipping connection with the Westerschelde. The city got authorization of emperor Karel V on 26 May 1547 to moor a canal until the country dike. Karel V was lord of the The Netherlands from 1515 up to 1555; also he was king of Spain and emperor of the German realm. Large sea ships could reach the Papegeul via the Braakman.
On 13 December 1549 Ghent (in Dutch: Gent) got authorization to build a lock at the end of the canal (another Dutch word for lock is “Sas”). Next to the lock they build working houses and buildings for the people working at the lock. This was the birth of Sas van Gent (Lock of Ghent).
You can find more about the history of Sas van Gent on: http://www.heemkundigekringsasvangent.nl/ |
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