Heritage: The fish market in Zeebrugge
The old fish market is an important piece of heritage in Zeebrugge and has an eventful history. Between 1909 and 1993, this was the place to be for traders to buy fish and is, as such, the forerunner of today's fish auction. Discover here the story behind the Zeebrugge fish market!
Where does its name ‘vismijn’ (fish mine) come from?
The fish market is a place where freshly landed fish is auctioned exclusively for traders. The word 'mine' in its name has nothing to do with a covered quarry where coal or ore is extracted. This is a reference to the old Dutch verb 'mijnen' (to mine): to appropriate something. The fish is sold at auction; they start with a higher amount and then let the price drop. Whoever shouted 'mine' first had bought the auctioned lot of fish. This custom goes back to the Middle Ages and can also be found in old ordinances and regulations relating to the Bruges fish market.
History of the Zeebrugge fish market
1909 - a wooden shack
With the expansion of the Bruges seaport (1895-1907), there was room for a Zeebrugge fishing fleet from 1906 onwards. Initially, it was used as a safe haven for fishing boats from Heist. From 1909, a small wooden shack served as the first fish market building, even though most of the activities took place outside. There was not much activity yet because most fishermen with a home port of Zeebrugge sold their fish in the fish markets of Ostend and Blankenberge.
1923 - a first temporary fish market
It was not until 1920 that the Bruges city council realised that the lack of a real fish market was detrimental to the development and growth of the Zeebrugge seafood trade. The city council of May 1920 gave the go-ahead, but it was not until 1923 that it was created. On 17 April 1923, the city council decided to build a provisional fish market building, measuring 20 metres by 10, and that could be taken apart if necessary. On 24 April 1923, the construction was awarded to the Bruges contractor Alfred Van Haecke, who was able to complete the project on 10 August of that same year. The first fish auction took place on 17 August 1924. In 1927, this 'provisional' construction was extended to 49 metres. In 1928, Zeebrugge was used a home port by 106 fishing boats.
1935 - a proper stone building
In the meantime, work had started on the development of the fishing port. A new 'Tijdok' with brick quay walls was dug and built in the period 1928-1933. The existing 'provisional' fish market building was no longer up to scratch and in 1934, the plans were approved for a new and large building at a new location, namely at the south side of the North dock of the newly dug 'Tijdok'. On 22 April 1935, the new fish auction was inaugurated. The building covered an area of 90 by 20 metres.
A railway line had been built up to the new fish market. Every day, a 'vischtrein' (fish train) left for the hinterland with special refrigerated wagons filled with 300 to 400 baskets of fish. In the following year, 1936, the fish market was extended to 168 metres.
Zeebrugge boasted a fleet of 146 vessels in 1938. Once the new 'definitive' fish market was in use (from 1935), the old fish market was demolished and rebuilt at the Rederskaai on the corner of Appelzakstraat.
1948 - a new building following destruction
The building from 1935 did not survive the Second World War. The fish market was razed to the ground in 1944. In September 1945, it was possible to resume its activities in a temporary building. In 1948, a new building was erected on the same spot as the previous one (Vismijnstraat). In May 1949, an opening ceremony was conducted. The building, with its distinctive tower and clockwork, measured 180 metres in length.
Because of the continuous growth of the Zeebrugge sea fishery, the fish market was extended in 1966-1967 with another 100 metres to a total length of 280 metres. At that time, the fish market looked like a modern and functional building with a useful sales area of 5,000 m2, 38 warehouses and premises for all kinds of fish-market-related services.
1993 - the story ends
As a result of the privatisation of the Zeebrugge fish market in 1988, a completely new complex was built in the inner port along Noordzeestraat. In 1993, all activity ground to a halt in the old fish market, which was then given to Seafront, the maritime theme park, on a long lease. In 2017, the City Council decided to repurpose the site of the old fish market. The old fish market building will probably be demolished to make way for a housing project. As such, the city is continuing to breathe new life into the site of the old fishing port.
History of the fish market's activities
The various activities (unloading, sorting, inspection and auctioning) of the fish market were initially contracted out by the city to private individuals or associations. On 16 September 1923, the City Council appointed the first four fish auctioneers: R. Van Torre and Leon Valcke from Zeebrugge, L. De Waele and H. Debra, shipowners from Heist. After the Second World War, fish auctions were held by the United Fish Auctioneers. From 1973 onwards, the fish market was operated as a management company, i.e. as a municipal company for the fish market and the fishing port. This form of operation came to an end at the end of 1987. The entire fish market activity was privatised and came into the hands of the NV Zeebrugse Visveiling, which moved in 1993 to a brand new building in the inner port along Noordzeestraat. The Zeebrugse Visveiling, together with the fish auctions of Ostend and Nieuwpoort, have now been incorporated into the Vlaamse Visveiling (Flemish Fish Auction).
