Eerste Kanaalsbrug

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

SWING BRIDGE built in 1895 to a design by the Director of Municipal Works J.E.G. Noordendorp with the assistance of civil engineer L. van Krimpen. The bridge connects the city centre with the New Canal District. The bridge was constructed at the site where in 1894 a continuous row of townhouses still stood. Seven houses had to be immediately demolished. The bridge was manufactured by the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Grofsmederij in Leiden. The type is an equal-armed swing bridge with manual operation. Initially the bridge was closed off with chains. In the 1920s closing booms were installed, which have since been replaced again. Four monumental cast-iron lanterns in eclectic style were preserved. They bear the inscriptions 'ANNO' and '1895'. The firm name is legible on a scrollwork cartouche on the eastern side of the bridge and the city coat of arms of Leeuwarden is displayed on the western side. In 1906 a bridge keeper's house was built on the corner of the Zuidergrachtswal and Kanaalstraat. At the end of the 1920s a small control house was placed on the southern abutment. In the 1970s the still manually operated bridge no longer met requirements, but replacement met with resistance from Monument Conservation and local residents. In 1983-'84 the bridge underwent major restoration and in 1996 the original colours were restored. The control house was restored in the original style.

Description

The manually operated equal-armed SWING BRIDGE stands on a masoned central pier of yellow bricks. The abutments are of the same material and provided with coping stones and corner blocks of hard stone and Niedermentlinger basalt lava. The superstructure consists of two main girders under the deck with solid webs, which are interconnected by cross-members and wind braces of riveted plate and angle iron. The deck rests on strips of oak and has an underside of oak and an upper surface of pine wood. On either side of the main girders are raised decks for pedestrians, resting on consoles and provided with an oak deck. Deck and pedestrian paths are now provided with a layer of asphalt. The swing mechanism consists of an iron spindle, placed in a cast-iron spindle holder, gearing and a toothed ring. The open lattice railings on the bridge are still original; the railings on the abutments have been replaced by balustrade railings and extended further along the quay than their predecessors. The four cast-iron lanterns have square bases with bevelled corners, inswept sides and panelled fields. The lantern posts mounted on them have richly worked bases provided with four lion heads above acanthus leaves and alternating with flowers. The shafts are wrapped with leaves and are terminated by composite capitals. Initially they were equipped for gas lighting, but were later electrified. The control house on a square base has a tent roof and was completely renewed in the restoration.

Valuation

SWING BRIDGE of general architectural-historical, technical-historical, cultural-historical and urban-planning significance:

- because of the high degree of integrity;

- because of the rarity, both for Leeuwarden and nationally, of a manually operated swing bridge;

- because of the architectural embellishment in the form of four monumental cast-iron candelabrum-form lanterns and the two commemorative plaques;

- because of its location at the transition between the city centre and the beginning of the New Canal District.