Grain elevator 19 can be temporarily admired in the Bonapartedok next to the MAS from 24 July. This impressive piece of maritime heritage is almost 100 years old and is also the last working steam grain elevator in the world. Definitely worth a visit.
Grain elevator 19 has thoroughly been restored some time ago and tells a strong tale of maritime history. It was responsible for transferring cargo from an ocean-going vessel to smaller barges. So it actually works a bit like a hoover. The four large tubes suck the grain from the ship's hold to the very top of the tower. There they are collected, weighed and dumped in precise quantities to the barge next door.
Before the grain elevator, it took more than a hundred dock workers a good week to transfer 6,000 tonnes of bulk cargo from one ship to another. With the innovation of grain elevators, that suddenly happened at a speed of almost 200 tonnes per hour.
Fancy a visit?
You can visit the grain elevator between 10am and 4pm on:
- Wed 31/7
- Sat 3/8
- Wed 7/8
- Sat 10/8
The grain elevator is located in the Bonaportedok on Nieuwpoortkaai, on the corner with Veurnekaai.
Don't miss Museum Night! On 3 August, the Grain elevator will be steamed up until 11pm and you can see it in operation. Visits are allowed until 1am.
