Inland waterways in Ghent and other popular areas in the Flanders region of Belgium have been effectively closed to pleasure boating as a result of historic drought conditions across continental Europe.

Marine Industry News reports on the move by Flemish Waterways, which has declared that leisure vessels may only pass through locks alongside commercial traffic.

“In concrete terms, this means that pleasure craft are no longer possible on waterways with very little or no commercial shipping,” Flemish Waterways said in a statement.

The organisation adds that recent heavy rains and forecasted rainfall will not be enough to restore its watercourses to safety navigable levels any time soon.

Moreover, there are growing concerns about water supply throughout Belgium with use restrictions being mooted for next month as the drought continues.

Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.