The Provincial Heritage Site of the Baasrode Shipyards (formerly: Shipbuilding Museum) is one of the most beautiful industrial-archaeological sites in Flanders. Here, you can explore the original wooden shed and the Van Damme master’s house, as well as the replica of the Rosalie boat, the Van Praet workshop, and the shipyard area with the actual construction site and two dry docks!
Origin
In the 15th century, Baasrode was a bustling trading center along the Scheldt, where ships from Antwerp docked daily. This traffic of sailing vessels led to the development of an important shipbuilding industry in Baasrode. In the 19th century, shipbuilding in Baasrode reached its peak. In 1972, the last new ship was launched, and in 1986 the final shipyard closed its doors. Some local volunteers then decided to establish a maritime heritage site.
The Provinciale Erfgoedsite Scheepswerven Baasrode originates from three shipyards: Van Damme, Van Praet, and the depot “De Toekomst.” The heritage site is housed in the authentic master’s residence of the former shipyard owner Van Damme. This monument-protected building dates from 1830 and features beautiful 19th-century ceiling paintings and valuable wall frescoes with Art Nouveau characteristics.
Collection
The collection of the Provinciale Erfgoedsite Scheepswerven Baasrode provides a comprehensive view of shipbuilding in Flanders in the 19th and 20th centuries. The heritage site displays an overview of the shipyard’s activities, old tools, models, and plans of the ships once built there. The museum archive contains more than 3,000 construction plans of various ship types.
There is a permanent exhibition of dozens of ship models and half-models, as well as a range of tools for building wooden and iron ships. Each museum season, the maritime museum organizes a themed exhibition on various topics connected to local and maritime history. Behind the museum, the shipyard remains as it was left on the last day of operations.
The symbol of the museum, the ship lamp of the “Bostroëneir” type (a kerosene lamp that stays lit even in the worst storms), is an original Baasrode design with international fame.