Tordino

Tordino is a historic museum ship moored at the Plassendale lock complex in Oudenburg, in Belgium's West Flanders region. Now more than a century old, the vessel has been transformed into a place dedicated to the history of inland shipping and the people who spent decades living and working on the canals linking Ghent with Ostend.

Where did the Tordino come from?

The Tordino was built in 1922 at the Van Aken en Blokland shipyard in Hardinxveld, in the Netherlands. It started out as a cargo vessel built for hauling freight along rivers and canals – a typical inland working boat of its era, one of hundreds that once plied the waterways between the ports of the Low Countries. Over the following decades the Tordino served as a working barge before eventually ending its transport career and being retired as a museum piece.

Why is the Tordino in Oudenburg today?

For many years the ship was moored in Beernem, but in April 2021 a decision was made to relocate it to Oudenburg. Its new berth, the historic Plassendale lock complex where the Plassendale–Nieuwpoort Canal meets the Ghent–Ostend Canal, was seen as a fitting setting for a century-old vessel. Pairing a historic stretch of waterway infrastructure with an old cargo ship was meant to create a coherent link to the local tradition of inland navigation. The ship opened to visitors in mid-May 2021.

What can visitors see on board?

The interior and cargo hold of the Tordino have been converted into an exhibition space devoted to inland shipping. Visitors can see ship models, hand tools once used by skippers and crews, everyday objects from life aboard the barges, along with documents, photographs and shipping bills that record the history of water transport. The ship also retains an authentic wheelhouse fitted with original navigation equipment, giving visitors a sense of how such a vessel was steered day to day. The museum additionally hosts temporary themed exhibitions, including one on the history of the canal connecting Ghent and Bruges.

Where exactly is the Tordino located?

The ship sits at Vaartdijk-Zuid 11 in Oudenburg, right by the Plassendale locks, at the point where two of the region's historic canals meet. It is an easy stop for anyone exploring the area around Ostend and Bruges, while remaining small and intimate enough that a visit feels like a quiet, close encounter with local history.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Tordino? The ship was built in 1922, making it more than a century old.

Where was the Tordino moored before Oudenburg? Before its move, the vessel was moored in the town of Beernem.

When was the Tordino relocated to Oudenburg? The move took place in April 2021, and the ship opened to visitors in mid-May of the same year.

What is on display aboard the ship? A permanent exhibition on inland shipping, featuring ship models, tools, everyday objects, documents and photographs, plus a preserved wheelhouse.