Wirdumerpoortsbrug

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

The current WIRDUMERPOORTSBRUG (also called Beursbrug) has had at least two predecessors: a fixed bridge over the city moat called 'Thyske-Tiltje', (named after mayor Matthijs Feenstra, who had this bridge built), which was succeeded in 1874-1875 by an iron swing bridge, designed by city architect Th. Romein. Increasing traffic problems led the Municipal Council in 1938 to decide on reconstruction. The current example with bridge-keeper's lodge was designed by municipal architect Justus Zuidema in Interbellum architecture. Construction began in July 1939, completion was in December 1940. Contractor of the mechanical part was N.V. Machinefabriek 'Jaffa' in Utrecht. Model and construction show similarities with the new Vrouwenpoortsbrug (1934) and the new Noorderbrug (1938) by the same architect. The Wirdumerpoortsbrug connects Zuiderplein with Wirdumerdijk. Renovation is in preparation.

Description

The substructure is executed in concrete, clad with brick and granite elements. The jointing is identical to that of Hilversum town hall by Dudok. The abutments close with curved walls to the embankment sides. The southern abutment (on which the granite plaque with the name of the bridge is placed on the west side) extends deeper into the moat than the northern one, because the former contains the cellar for the counterweight. Beneath the northern abutment there is a waterway opening in order to keep resistance for ships passing through as minimal as possible. The superstructure consists of a bridge-keeper's lodge, four pylons, swing gates, lanterns and railings. The bridge-keeper's lodge has a circular plan. It stands on a granite plinth and has brick walls with, for three-quarters of the perimeter, a row of windows, interrupted by a door. Below the windows is a granite band. The twelve-sided, nearly flat roof is covered with copper plates. Window and door frames are no longer original. In the lodge a small, natural stone fireplace mantel was preserved between two cupboard doors. The operation of the bridge is carried out from the southeastern pylon, which is executed for this purpose as a three-quarter circular brick breastwork with a granite top edge. The southwestern pylon has a gently curved granite capping. The northern pylons are higher and are provided with reliefs in granite, representing respectively the coat of arms of Leeuwarden (a climbing lion in a shield) with below it '1940', on the western example and the coat of arms of Friesland (two running lions placed one above the other) with below it 'ANNO' on the eastern example. The reliefs were made by Nina Baanders-Kessler. Next to the pylons there are lanterns with a circular section on granite consoles. Tapers are marked by rings. From a crossbar, supported by decorative scrolls, hang the -not original- light fixtures. The swing gates are hung from H-profiles with the original traffic lights on top. The gates have a tubular bearer with a framework of tube material on top. The railings on the leaves are of tube material, those on the wing walls have cast iron ellipsoidal standards with tubes between them. The ship navigation lights were removed after the bridge was fixed.

Valuation

Bridge of architectural and cultural-historical significance:

- because of the virtually unrepaired condition in which it is;

- because of the reliefs by Nina Baanders-Kessler, which illustrate the connecting function of the bridge between city and province;

- as a good representative of the work of Justus Zuidema; - because of the plastic qualities of the architecture.