Kasteel en Tuinen van Freÿr / Maas (België)

Suffering from the Industrialization

• 1860 :
  • Léopold I obtains from Baron de Rothschild that the railroad which was to pass in the middle of the gardens, is put in a trench behind the gardens.
  • In fact, it passes just in front of the Frederic-Salle and is not used any more.
• 1876 :
  • The Meuse is canalized . Its level is raised by 4 meters. Dams are built, unfortunately with a draught of 2 meters.
  • It results in frequent floods, including in 1890: 1.70 m, in 1925: 1.86 m, in 1995: 1,60 m, and others of smaller magnitude.
  • A lawsuit brought against the Belgian State after the floods of 1890 was lost.
  • At present, the river was dredged and the dams have a draught of 6 meters. That helps.