Belgium demands resumption of Dutch dredging

The Flemish region of Belgium is demanding that the Netherlands keep its promise to deepen the Westerscheldt river estuary.

The Flemish region of Belgium on Thursday summoned the Dutch ambassador to demand that the Netherlands resume dredging in the Westerscheldt estuary.

Flemish prime minister Kris Peeters told ambassador Hannie Pollmann-Zaal that Brussels wants the terms of a 2005 treaty respected. In it, Flanders and the Netherlands both committed themselves to improving what is the main shipping route to the port of Antwerp.

On July 28, the Dutch council of state ordered the dredging of the Westerscheldt halted until more was known about its environmental impact. A local environmental group and the society for the protection of birds had lodged a complaint saying the project was harming the Saeftinghe nature reserve.

The council of state accepted the complaint and told the ministry of agriculture and nature it had prematurely given the go-ahead for the dredging.

Antwerp authorities say the port is losing an estimated 70 million euros because big seagoing ships are unable to reach it. Critics in Flanders say the Netherlands is dragging its feet in order to protect the port of Rotterdam, Antwerp's main rival in the region.