Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven

The Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven N.V. (MBZ), known until 2013 as the Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeevaartinrichtingen, was the Belgian company that governed and operated the port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. It was founded on 25 November 1895 with the task of building the Bruges-Zeebrugge port complex. The port became usable in 1905 and was officially inaugurated by King Leopold II on 23 July 1907. The MBZ was a limited company (naamloze vennootschap) whose principal shareholder was the City of Bruges. It held the concession for the management and operation of the port from the Flemish government and the City of Bruges, a concession later extended until 2097. The port was located on the territory of the Belgian city of Bruges and was the second largest port in Belgium after Antwerp. Its responsibilities included designing and tendering major infrastructure and superstructure works, maintaining existing infrastructure and superstructure, operating bridges, locks and port cranes, supplying water and electricity in the port area, setting up and maintaining IT projects, controlling and regulating port traffic, surveillance and supervision in the port area, and commercial activities such as attracting new customers and producing reports and studies. After the Second World War, Pierre Vandamme served as chairman and managing director, combining this role with the mayorship of Bruges for the last fifteen years. From 1975 to 2001, Fernand Traen was chairman and managing director of the port of Zeebrugge, also serving as a Bruges city councillor and alderman. In 2001, Joachim Coens succeeded him, giving up his seat in the Flemish Parliament. In April 2013, the roles of chairman and managing director were split; Coens remained managing director and Renaat Landuyt, mayor of Bruges, became chairman. In December 2019, Coens became party chairman of CD&V and resigned as port chief; general director Rik Goetinck became interim CEO. In July 2020, Tom Hautekiet became the new port chief until the 2022 merger. After a partial demerger, the MBZ merged with the Port of Antwerp in 2022 to form the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The merged entity, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, is the second largest port in Europe and a true world port, with more than 300 liner services and 800 destinations.

The Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven N.V. (MBZ), known until 2013 as the Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeevaartinrichtingen, was founded on 25 November 1895 with the task of building the Bruges-Zeebrugge port complex. The port became usable in 1905 and was officially inaugurated by King Leopold II on 23 July 1907. The MBZ was a limited company (naamloze vennootschap) whose principal shareholder was the City of Bruges. It obtained the concession for the management and operation of the port from the Flemish government and the City of Bruges; this concession was later extended until 2097. The port was located on the territory of the Belgian city of Bruges and was the second largest port in Belgium after Antwerp. After the Second World War, Pierre Vandamme became chairman and managing director of the port company, combining this function with the mayorship of Bruges for the last fifteen years. From 1975 to 2001, Fernand Traen was chairman and managing director of the port of Zeebrugge; he was also a city councillor and alderman of Bruges. In 2001, Joachim Coens succeeded him in this position, giving up his role as a Flemish Member of Parliament. In April 2013, the functions of chairman and managing director of MBZ were split. Coens remained managing director and Renaat Landuyt, mayor of Bruges, became chairman of the port. In addition to his role as port chief, Coens was a city councillor, alderman and mayor of Damme. In December 2019, Coens became party chairman of CD&V and resigned his position as port chief. General director Rik Goetinck became CEO ad interim. In July 2020, Tom Hautekiet became the new port chief until the merger in 2022. After a partial demerger, the MBZ merged with the Port of Antwerp in 2022 to form the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The merged Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the second largest port in Europe and a true world port, with more than 300 liner services and 800 destinations.

• 2022

  After a partial demerger, merged with the Port of Antwerp to form Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

• 2013

  Name changed from Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeevaartinrichtingen to Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven; roles of chairman and managing director split in April.

• 1907

  Officially inaugurated by King Leopold II on 23 July.

• 1905

  Port became usable.

• 1895

  Founded on 25 November with the task of building the Bruges-Zeebrugge port complex.

Second largest port in Belgium, operating under a long-term concession from the Flemish government and the City of Bruges.

Product categories. Port infrastructure and superstructure · Port management and operations · Concession services

1. 1Our port in a single click | Port of Antwerp-Brugesportofantwerpbruges.com
2. 2Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehavennl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehavenwikidata.org