All four are located on the Canal du Centre in Belgium's historic sillon industriel industrial belt.

Along a particular 7 km (4.3 mi) stretch of the Canal du Centre, which connects the river basins of the Meuse and the Scheldt, the water level rises by 66.2 metres (217 ft).

The elevators are double, consisting of two vertically mobile tanks or caissons, each supported in the centre by an iron column.

Of the eight hydraulic lift locks built in the late 19th and early 20th century, the four on the Canal du Centre are the only ones still functioning in their original form[citation needed].

Following an accident in January 2002, in which a malfunctioning elevator began rising as a motor barge was exiting, lift no.