Vilvoorde to relocate historic Koekoekxkraan crane

The city of Vilvoorde is relocating the historic Koekoekxkraan crane to preserve its industrial heritage during urban redevelopment. The crane is scheduled to be moved from the Steenkaai to the end of Havenstraat on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Originally built in the late 1950s for the port of Matadi in Congo, the crane never reached its intended destination due to Congolese independence in 1960. After a period in the port of Ghent, it was acquired by the Koekoekx brothers in 1989 for use in Vilvoorde. The city recently took ownership of the structure from developer Matexi.

The relocation aims to integrate the landmark into the new 4 Fonteinen district while making room for the development of KanaalPark. Local officials, including Alderman Jeroen Bergers, emphasized that the move is intended to save the crane from being scrapped and to use it as a symbol of the city's industrial past and a centerpiece for its future.