Ancien Barrage Hastière in Hastière, Belgium

Hastière, a town near Brussels, is renowned for its Romanesque Saint-Pierre Abbey, located on the Meuse River. The river’s importance as a transport route led Belgium to modernize navigation after its 1830 independence. Stone quarries and forests along the river were vital for the country's economy and trade with neighboring nations. To regulate the river, 15 weirs were built, requiring dismantling during floods. Engineers developed two movable weir types: the needle dam and the wicket dam, both designed to withstand strong currents. Nine mixed weirs, using both types, existed, with two sections preserved near Hastière. The needle dam used removable wooden poles, while the wicket dam employed adjustable planks with openings. These ingenious weir designs have been replaced by automated gates on the Meuse. Hastière's weir, used until 1983, is the only place the combined structure can be seen. Information panels help visitors understand the complex mechanisms, preserving navigation history. The site allows a glimpse into the evolution of river navigation techniques.