adapted. The construction of two new locks (205 x 25 m) at Zemst (opened in 1975) and Hingene (opened in 1997) allowed the canal to lead directly into the Scheldt. The Port of Brussels is now accessible to ships of 4500 tons and pushed convoys of 9000 tons. The canal is of paramount importance for the supply of oil to Brussels, which typically represents 30 - 50% of annual traffic. In 1974 the annual traffic rose to 14 million tonnes. After a relapse, the volume transported has been rising again in recent years. With 7 million tons carried by the canal, the Port of Brussels is the second inland port in the country after the Port of Liège. Following the regionalisation of Belgium, the management of the canal is no longer in the hands of the "SA Maritime" (a company established in 1896) but came under the control of the Port of Brussels for the part in the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region and Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV for the part in the Flemish Region. In popular culture Wannes Van de Velde recorded a song about the bridge of Willebroek named De Brug van Willebroek. References This article was largely translated from the French wikipedia article, version 11 May 2008 Sports-reference.com 1920 Summer Olympics rowing website. Canals opened in 1561 Canals in Brussels Canals in Flanders Canals in Antwerp Province Canals in Flemish Brabant Venues of the 1920 Summer Olympics Olympic rowing venues 1561 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire