As far back as the Middle Ages, the monks of Waulsort Abbey used a waterway just downstream from the present one, opposite the old abbey. At the beginning of the 19th century, from the French border to Namur, there were around ten of them. The one at Waulsort is the last one in operation on the Meuse.

From 1871, following the construction of the railway line linking Dinant to Givet on the left bank (opened in 1863), the water crossing enabled the residents of Falmagne and Falmignoul to reach the opposite bank to catch the train to Dinant. It operated in both summer (using an undersea cable) and winter (using an overhead cable). It is therefore part of the heritage of the people of Waulsort.

The boat used by our ancestors was the nacelle (a term dating from the 13th century). It was made of wood, 12 to 13 m long, 1.50 m wide and 0.70 m deep. Both ends were raised, making it easier to embark and disembark both people and goods. This large boat was handled using a gaff or “râble”, a pole with a plank at the end. Nowadays, the ferry has replaced the gondola, and the tool used by the waterman is called the “planer” or “shoe”.

Watch the film about the waterman, made by “Matélé” (Anne Pirson and Philippe Palamin)

Information: Mr John Noseda (Port of Waulsort) Tel: +32 476 33.14.81

Horaires pour 2026 :

Du 03/04/2026 au 19/04/2026 : tous les jours de 10h à 18h (ve-sa-di de 10 à 19h)

Du 20/04/2026 au 26/04/2026 uniquement samedi dimanche de 10 à 18h

Du 27/04/2026 au 10/05/2026 : tous les jours de 10h à 18h (ve-sa-di de 10 à 19h)

Du 11/05/2026 au 30/06/2026 : tous les jours de 10 à 18h

Du 01/07/2026 au 31/08/2026 : tous les jours de 10h à 18h (ve-sa-di de 10 à 19h)

Du 01/09/2026 au 01/10/2026 : tous les jours de 10 à 18h

Du 30/09/2026 au 25/10/2026 : uniquement samedi et dimanche de 10 à 18h

Du 26/10/2026 au 01/11/2026 : tous les jours de 10 à 18h

When the river is not open, you can cross it on foot or by bike via the Waulsort dam, 500m upstream.