Herentals

19th century

In 1803 surveyors started work to construct the Grand Canal du Nord that aimed to connect the Scheldt to the Meuse and the Rhine. In 1806 Herentals was included in the trajectory. Antwerpen would temporarily connect to Herentals via the Scheldt, Rupel, Nete and Kleine Nete, but the part from the Rupel to Herentals was useless. After a few years, the works were stopped, because the canal was no longer needed after Napoleon got the Dutch harbors under his control.

After Belgium became independent, the idea to make a waterway from Antwerp to the Meuse was revived. The Nete Canal between the Rupel and Duffel was opened in 1839. That same year, the canalized Kleine Nete towards Herentals was opened. In 1846, the first part of the new Campine Canal was extended from Blauwe Kei to a point west of Herentals. This resulted in the first effective connection between the Meuse and the Scheldt, known as Kempische Vaart or Maas–Schelde Kanaal. The Kempische Vaart went straight through the center of Herentals along the Augustijnenlaan and Belgiëlaan. In the 1930s, the new Albert Canal became the main connection to the Meuse. It passes south of Herentals, where Lock 10 gives access to the remains of the Kempische Vaart. These now form the Bocholt–Herentals Canal.

Herentals also became an important rail transport center. In 1855, the Herentals–Turnhout part of Belgian railway line 29, which ran from Aarschot to Tilburg was opened. The connection from Lier to Herentals, part of Belgian railway line 15 was opened that same year. In 1878, the Iron Rhine section from Herentals to Moll was opened. Herentals railway station had several branches to local industries and military facilities. It was also a tramway hub. The stations Herentals-Kanaal and Noorderwijk-Morkhoven have been closed.