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Apart from the accumulators (the only remaining units from all Antwerp hydraulic power stations), Zuiderpershuis houses plenty of other industrial relics.

  • In the annealing furnace, the chains from the hydraulic cranes were heated after every 600 working hours, to give the metal its strength back.
  • Early 20th century, four forgers and their helpers used to repair the chains in the forgery. The forgery is still operational to this day and is equipped with double forging fires, four anvils and a pneumatic forge hammer.
  • To the right of the forgery, the large bench/machine workshop still exists. The driving wheels that were used to move the heavy equipment are still connected to the ceiling. The original machinery (such as a radial drilling machine and two large lathes from 1883) were moved to Zuiderpershuis’ small museum.
  • Around 1900 a large warehouse was built next to the second boiler room, on what is now known as the Leuvenstraat. It housed chain racks and a plumber’s workshop.
  • The staff residences on the Timmerwerfstraat were completed in Flemish neo-renaissance. The difference between the lavish façade of the director’s house and the ‘plain’ façade of the mechanic’s house is quite striking. The double wooden entrance gate that leads to the courtyard used to serve as the main entrance to Zuiderpershuis.
  • Dockworkers that were injured on the job, were treated at the first-aid post at Waalsekaai 15. This late-19th century emergency station was only created after much delay and political tug of war.