Danny Deckers: “The port of Antwerp can be happy with the merger, because capacity expansion was not possible”
All in all, about 75,000 people work in the port, of which about 8,000 are dockers. And there is no city in Belgium that is bigger than the port. It concerns an area of 25,000 football fields. “I have always been a strong believer in the merger between Antwerp and Zeebrugge because of my experience in both ports,” says Danny Deckers†
“We can be very happy in Antwerp that we can merge if the possibility to expand the capacity was gone.” From an economic point of view, this new strong port is important. “The customers of both ports are European. Those people need us to import and export their products.”
To arise
The story of the port of Antwerp has always been one of trial and error. “The port took over the wool and textile trade with England when the ports in Zeeland and Ghent became silted for the last time.” The port in Antwerp continued to grow until the fall of Antwerp in 1585.
Despite the fact that the port of Antwerp is located 100 kilometers inland, it has always been an important hub. “It is even said that the Vikings came there in their time. The name ‘Antwerp’ would come from ‘casting’ a Viking ship.” There are of course many other stories, such as that of the giant Brabo.
Did you know
- Antwerp is the ideal place to store coffee, moist and not too hot. An air conditioner is necessary, opening the door is not necessary.
- Birds chirp louder in the harbor due to the ambient noise. By the way, about 170 different species of birds come to the Tufted Duck in Antwerp.
- The water in the Scheldt rises up to six meters and that twice a day.
- Antwerp cranes have a world record. They can transport up to 35 containers per crane per hour.
Listen to the podcast of #weetikveel in the app of VRT NU