Temse (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Temse will not restore the Boelwerf crane, a protected 1957 landmark, due to restoration costs over €2 million; Alderman Bert Bauwelinck cites Interwaas and Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever as potential funding partners.
As VRT News reported, the municipality of Temse, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, will not restore the Boelwerf crane in the coming years. The latest estimate for a full restoration is over €2 million, far more than the municipality can afford. Because of this, the crane will remain in its current state. Its protected status ensures it cannot be removed or dismantled.
“The Boelwerf crane will continue to watch over the Scheldt like a ‘sleeping beauty’ until a permanent restoration is possible.”
Bert Bauwelinck (Tesamen), Alderman for Heritage
What is the future of Temse’s Boelwerf crane amid high costs?
In recent years, Temse has had to put plans to restore the Boelwerf crane on hold. The high cost of the restoration has made it difficult for the municipality to move forward.
“The architectural firm has done a very good job,”
says Bauwelinck.
“But if prospective contractors submit a quote we can’t afford, we have no choice but to postpone the plans. Of course, we know prices won’t drop, so we have to explore other possible funding sources.”
Several organisations remain involved in preserving the town’s industrial heritage. Interwaas, a regional development agency, and the Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever, also called the Linkerschelde Bank Company, are partners that can provide funding for restoration projects.
“But perhaps we should see if we can attract private investors,”
Bauwelinck continues.
“Many port cities around the world also have restored cranes. And often, it’s port- or shipbuilding-related companies that have funded part of the project. Sometimes, it’s even hotels, like in Rotterdam.”
The Boelwerf crane is also carefully monitored by heritage authorities. The Monumentenwacht, or Monument Watch, inspects the crane every year to check its condition.
“These people climb all the way up into the crane to check that everything is still sturdy and safe. If urgent maintenance is needed, we’ll definitely have it done. We can certainly draw on the municipal funds for that,”
the alderman concludes.
The crane is a protected industrial heritage site and an important landmark in the town. It was built in 1957 by the metal company Nobels-Peelman from Sint-Niklaas for the Cockerill Yards in Hoboken. After Cockerill went bankrupt, the crane was moved to Temse in 1986.
It was installed at the Boelwerf shipyard, which later closed in 1994. Since then, the crane has stood as a visible symbol of the town’s shipbuilding history. Many residents and visitors recognise it as a reminder of Temse’s industrial past.
