The employment grew and ships with a carrying capacity of 600 tonnes brought grain, sand and other basic products to the factories around the canal.

Nearby is the A17/E403 highway Bruges-Kortrijk with many opportunities to explore the coast, the inland or the Belgian-French and Belgian-Dutch border regions.

The canal connects Roeselare with the ports of Dunkirk, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels and Liege, via the Leie.

The Leiestreek tourist office and the municipality are working on a project to give the canal and the green area around it a recreational function.

The piece of the canal between Roeselare port and the town is an ideal backdrop for street theater and cultural events, such as the happening "De Groote Stooringe".