Berlagebrug

About

The Berlagebrug (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɛrlaːɣəˌbrʏx]; English: Berlage Bridge) is a bascule bridge over the river Amstel in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The bridge was commissioned by the Amsterdam municipality and designed by engineer Cornelis Biemond (1899-1980) and architect Hendrikus Petrus Berlage (1856–1934); it was named after the latter. It was constructed from 1926 to 1931 and officially opened on 28 May 1932. It has been designated as a Rijksmonument (National Heritage Site) since 11 May 2008. The bridgekeeper's house carries the address Amsteldijk 134.

Background: A bridge across the Amstel had been part of Berlage's original plan for Plan Zuid in 1915. In 1925, the main thoroughfare of the new Rivierenbuurt district, the Amstellaan (later renamed Stalinlaan, then renamed again to Vrijheidslaan, in 1956), was completed. The area was not yet directly connected to the eastern part of the city, separated from it by the Amstel. Further need for this bridge was accelerated by the construction of the Transvaalbuurt and Betondorp on the opposite bank of the Amstel. Until the construction of the Berlagebrug, the Nieuwe Amstelbrug (also known as Ceintuurbaanbrug) further...