4-5 JULY 2026 | Scheldeland in Stoom festival celebrates 40 years of museum line 52

The Dendermonde-Puurs Steam Train or Stoomtrein Dendermonde-Puurs organisation will host the 18th edition of Scheldtland in Steam (Scheldeland in Stoom) on Saturday 4 July and Sunday 5 July 2026. This year’s event marks a special milestone: 40 years of operation on museum line 52. 

A weekend of heritage and steam

Historic steam and diesel trains will operate an intensive schedule between Baasrode-Noord and Puurs across both days. Visitors can explore a range of activities, including a locomotive exhibition, model railways, live steam demonstrations, a vintage car fair, and more. 

On both days, attendees can enjoy a steamboat ride on the River Scheldt between Sint-Amands and Baasrode, as well as a visit to the Scheepswerven Baasrode shipyards. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the line’s operation- – and ahead of the association’s 50th anniversary in 2027 – a special book will be released. It will be available for purchase in the bookshop from 4 July.

Rolling and static exhibits

The event will showcase a variety of steam and diesel locomotives, including:

• NE 61 SACM ‘André Chapelon’: A powerful four-axle steam locomotive built in 1952 by Graffenstaden in France. Originally used in the blast furnaces of Neuenkirche Hütte in Saarland until 1969, it has been restored to its original condition and is now operated by the Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des 3 Vallées.
• Energie n°507: A three-axle steam locomotive built in 1946 by SA Energie in Marcinelle, Belgium, for the Cokeries de Zeebrugge. This KDL7-type locomotive, built at the end of World War II, now operates in Luxembourg with AMTF Train 1900 and regularly visits international museums and railway festivals.
• Tubize n°2069: A staple of the museum line, built in 1927 and meticulously restored by volunteers.
• Haine-St-Pierre n°1378: After extensive winter maintenance and an adventure in Poland in May 2026, this smaller blue locomotive, affectionately known as the ‘Wase Kleiputter‘,  will also be in action.

Steamboat on the Scheldt

A unique feature of this year’s event is the ‘Steam Triangle‘, allowing visitors to experience a full steam journey by combining a steamboat ride on the Scheldt with steam train travel and shuttle buses. The steamboat trips, limited in capacity, must be booked in advance via the Scheepswerven Baasrode website. A combined ticket for the steamboat and steam train also includes a €2 discount on the standard Scheldeland in Stoom day pass.

Shuttle buses

Vintage buses will operate between Baasrode-Noord station, the steamboat dock, and the Scheepswerven Baasrode shipyards, as well as between Sint-Amands station, the Scheldt Quays, and Gansakkermolen. These buses are accessible with a Scheldeland in Steam day pass or the all-inclusive ‘Steam Triangle’ ticket. Priority will be given to holders of the ‘Steam Triangle’ ticket.

For detailed schedules, additional ticket options, and further updates, visit the official Scheldeland in Stoom website.

Heritage and other special trams and trains in Belgium

• BELGIUM | Steam Train Festival returns to Maldegem with anniversary celebrations and restored railway link.
• Aachen Christmas Market Trains from Vilvoorde / Antwerp / Lier / Hasselt and Braine-le-Comte / Mons / Charleroi-Central / Namur on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2025.
• Pride Express links Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp to WorldPride Amsterdam on 1 and 2 August 2026.
• BELGIUM | Rollout of The Rolling Tables dinner train experience delayed.
• The Rolling Tables dinner train experience in Belgium from 1 August 2025 and in the Netherlands from 1 November 2025.
• BELGIUM | Le Chemin de Fer du Bocq heritage railway reopens on 14 June 2025.
• BELGIUM | Fête du Rail at Rétrotrain, Saint-Ghislain.
• BELGIUM | Dendermonde – Puurs Steam Railway.
• PHOTOS | AM66 ‘Klassiekje’ / ‘Classique’ Farewell Ride at Antwerp-Central Railway Station.
• Farewell to the NMBS / SNCB AM66 ‘Klassiekje’ or ‘Classique’.
• Plans for a steam train heritage service between Brussels and Mechelen shelved.
• RIDE & DINE | Orient Dining Express by Stoomtrein Maldegem-Eeklo.
• RIDE & DINE | Brussels Tram Experience.
• Riding the Kersttram or Christmas Tram in Antwerp.