Conincksbrug

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 BRIDGE over the Beek, constructed of reinforced concrete, forms the connection between the Coninckstraat and the Scheltussingel. The bridge was built between 1915 and 1917 by N.V. Wernink's Betonfabriek in Leiden after a design by municipal architect and director of Public Works C.G. Beltman on commission of the Municipality of Amersfoort. The bridge was intended to provide better access to the old city centre. Construction experienced some delay because Beltman modified the design. The designation 'Balkbrug' - as Beltman described the second design - points to the traditional forms that were pursued with the relatively modern material of concrete. The Conincksbrug is one of the earliest concrete bridges in the Netherlands. The four wrought iron lanterns on the concrete corner pillars, inspired by the wrought iron railings, were added during the 1991 restoration and fall outside the protection.

Description

The bridge spans the Beek, lying in the extension of the Coninckstraat, and connects the city centre with the Scheltussingel running parallel to the Beek. The bridge can be subdivided into a rectangular bridge section and two abutments that become wider towards the land. The span, which accommodates a seven metre wide carriageway with a two and a half metre wide pavement on both sides, is supported by a number of arched concrete beams, with six concrete consoles perpendicular to them on each side. These tapering consoles, with a rounded termination, are positioned such that the bridge is subdivided into five equal bays. Above the consoles is the edge of the slightly curved concrete deck, on which the word 'Conincksbrug' was applied in the middle during the 1991 restoration. The edge of the bridge deck extends slightly through the abutment and also projects relative to the slightly narrower edge of the abutments, suggesting that the bridge is supported by the abutments.

The nine bay-wide wrought iron railing, supported at each bay by concrete pillars, forms a quarter circle at the ends of the abutments. Geometric forms are incorporated in the wrought iron railing and the concrete pillars that support it. Of the ten concrete pillars, the third and eighth stand on the transitions of the abutments and the bridge. These large massive concrete pillars taper from a square base via two cubic volumes, the foundation of a pyramid and an octagon, to a cylinder, which is rounded at the top. Iron lanterns were installed on the cylinders during the 1991 restoration. In the design of these lanterns, the railing was taken into account. Previously historicising lanterns stood on the pillars. On each side there are four small concrete pillars on the bridge - precisely above the consoles - and two pillars of the same size stand on the abutment sides. The concrete pillars at the ends of the railing are slightly larger but otherwise identical to the small pillars. Linear and curvi-linear patterns are incorporated in the wrought iron railing.

Valuation

The Conincksbrug is of general importance because of its cultural-historical value as an early example of a bridge executed in reinforced concrete with a still fairly traditional design. The bridge occupies a prominent place in the oeuvre of C.G. Beltman. The bridge is of ensemble value in relation to the entrance of the city centre and the green space.