Chappe Telegraph in Sint-Gillis-Waas Designated Flemish Masterpiece

Sint-Gillis-Waas (Eurotoday) –  The Chappe telegraph in Sint-Gillis-Waas, preserved by KOKW, became a Flemish Masterpiece. It used 256 visual signals before electricity. Alderman Denis D’Hanis praised its heritage value.

As VRT News reported, the historic Chappe telegraph in Sint-Gillis-Waas, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, has been included in Flanders’ List of Masterpieces. Today, Dec 4, 2025, it is preserved by the Royal Historical Society of Waasland (KOKW). 

“I’m thrilled that this has now become a Flemish masterpiece,”

says Alderman D’hanis.

“Our services and our Heritage Steering Committee are now exploring what we can do with this unique heritage site, which is now a Flemish masterpiece.”

What makes the Chappe telegraph in Sint-Gillis-Waas a Flemish masterpiece?

The telegraph is an optical system, also called a semaphore. It was used before electricity and Morse code. The device works through visual signals. It has a tall vertical mast with a horizontal crossbar on top. Movable wings are attached to both ends of the crossbar. 

The position of the crossbar and wings represents letters, numbers, and symbols. Operators set the wings at one station. The next station would read the signals with a telescope and repeat them. 

“The components could be autonomously placed in various configurations, creating approximately 256 signals,”

says Alderman for Heritage Denis D’hanis (N-VA).

“To form a semaphore connection or line, the semaphores were placed at a considerable distance from each other on church towers, hills, and other elevated positions in the landscape.”

A network of Chappe telegraphs operated in France and its territories between 1794 and 1855. The system was key to the territorial unification of France during the French Revolution and the years that followed. These telegraphs allowed messages to travel much faster than traditional couriers on horseback. 

The Waas telegraph in Sint-Gillis-Waas was installed on the tower of the former church from 1809 to 1810. It was part of the line connecting Antwerp to Vlissingen. Officials mentioned that the telegraph played an important role in Napoleon Bonaparte’s plans to defend his empire against a possible attack from England.

The discovery of new electrical applications in the 19th century made optical telegraphs obsolete. From 1855 onwards, electric telegraph systems replaced most Chappe telegraphs. Of the roughly 500 Chappe telegraphs that once existed worldwide, the one from Sint-Gillis-Waas is the only example. 

The Flemish Masterpieces list includes objects that are considered rare and essential because of their exceptional historical, cultural, archaeological, scientific, or artistic value. Being added to the list gives the object special protections. 

Any repair, restoration, or other physical intervention must receive official permission before it can take place. The object is also generally not allowed to leave Flanders, even temporarily