In 1134, a storm surge tore a shipping channel into the Zwin bay, so that the city of Bruges, about 15 kilometers inland, had direct access to the North Sea. Thanks to this lake access, Bruges was an important trading center in the Middle Ages. However, the Zwin driveway silted rapidly from the 15th century and could not be restored even with hydraulic engineering measures. Bruges also lost importance with direct access to the sea. By 1600, Bruges was only a provincial town. The economic decline continued into the 19th century. Around 1870 Bruges was again completely surrounded by land masses. The emerging industry in the city, however, increasingly demanded a restoration of the formerly existing direct connection to the North Sea, especially in order to be able to handle trade with England more effectively. From 1892, therefore, began the expansion of the new overseas port Zeebrugge, after initial planning for it was already worked out from 1866. The first harbor complex was inaugurated in 1907 by the Belgian King Leopold II.