The river Scheldt became entirely toll-free from 1 August 1863. The first ship to leave the docks was the Marnix de Ste. Aldegonde named after Antwerp's mayor of 1585. It was simultaniously the last sailing ship that was to be built in Belgium as a merchant vessel. Belgian ship-owners moved over to steam shipping very early on, and the number of sailing ships declined rapidly.
