Walter Süskindbrug

Historic drawbridge Amsterdam

Amsterdam

netherlands

Connecting the historic centre of Amsterdam

Connecting the historic centre of Amsterdam

A replacement bridge was built for the Walter Süskindbrug drawbridge in Amsterdam, which had been there since 1972, as it was in need of replacement.

The bridge tells a special story; the Jewish businessman Walter Süskindbrug, after whom the bridge is named, destroyed the records of hundreds of Jewish children during the Second World War so that they would not be sent to the concentration camps. Therefore, preserving the history and the story behind the old bridge was a very important aspect to take into account, in addition to the fact that the bridge should last a lifetime.

In order for the bridge to meet these requirements, a wooden superstructure was chosen that was transported over water. This wooden superstructure consisted of Accoya wood, which was used partly for the façade and partly structurally, making the bridge appear to be made entirely of wood. Accoya wood was processed into large inner arches and sections of approximately 7 metres in length, after which the parts were prefabricated. The wooden parts were painted with a white epoxy coating.

The new double drawbridge makes it possible to reconnect pedestrians and other commuters to the historic centre of Amsterdam.

Applications used in this project:Cladding Cladding Inspiration Inspiration

Project Statistics

Project Statistics

Reopening: 29 april 2022

Client: Municipality of Amsterdam

Contractor: Damsteegt

Woodwork gluing by: Heko Spanten

Woodworker: Doornekamp Woodspecials

Accoya wood supplied by distributor: Boogaerdt Hout

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