“Star Wars” and praying mantises. A strange combination inspired the Vrouwenakkerbrug. This bridge is not just a way to cross the Amstel-Drechtkanaal. It is a testament to innovative design.
Welcome to the Vrouwenakkerbrug. It is also known as Brug Vrouwenakker or Vrouwenakkersebrug. This movable drawbridge sits on the N231. It marks the border between Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland. Look around. The village of Vrouwenakker lies in Zuid-Holland. De Kwakel is in Noord-Holland. The Vrouwenakkerbrug connects them.
The Vrouwenakkerbrug spans the Amstel-Drechtkanaal. This canal is a widened part of the De Drecht river. King Willem I ordered the canal’s expansion around 1825. He wanted bigger ships to travel between Amsterdam and Gouda. The canal became known as the Amstel-Drechtkanaal. Some still call this part the Amstel.
The Vrouwenakkerbrug’s history is quite interesting. Before the Vrouwenakkerbrug existed, a ferry called ‘Pyntje ter Loop’ served the villages until 1884. Then, a double Klapbrug, the Vrouwenackersche Klapbrug, was built. This accommodated the new road between Amsterdam and Gouda. A narrower drawbridge replaced it in 1939.
By 2008, the old drawbridge needed replacement. It was too old and small for the traffic. The current Vrouwenakkerbrug was opened on July 2, 2008. The old bridge was reused. It became part of the access road to a former gunpowder factory in Muiden. A new residential area now stands there.
Notice the Vrouwenakkerbrug’s unique look. The architect drew inspiration from a praying mantis and the Jedi Starfighter from “Star Wars”. The green-blue bridge has curved hameistijlen and a sloping balance beam. This gives it an organic appearance. In 2010, the Vrouwenakkerbrug won the Dutch Design Award for best public space design.
BSB staalbouw in Bergum built the steel parts of the Vrouwenakkerbrug. They were shipped to the site. The bridge sections were assembled in May 2008.
The Vrouwenakkerbrug has one lane for each direction. A two-way bike path sits on the west side. It is separated from the road by a railing. A footpath is on the other side. Though the canal is a throughway, the Vrouwenakkerbrug mainly serves recreational boats.
The Vrouwenakkerbrug is part of the N231. It runs from the Bosrandbrug near Schiphol-Oost to the N207 east of Alphen aan de Rijn. The Amstel-Drechtkanaal marks the border of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland. Utrecht borders both provinces near the Vrouwenakkerbrug. Noord-Holland manages the Vrouwenakkerbrug. The speed limit here is 50 km/h. About 10,500 vehicles cross the Vrouwenakkerbrug each day.
The Vrouwenakkerbrug’s throughway measures 10.5 meters. The bridge deck is 1.2 meters high. The Vrouwenakkerbrug opens on request on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. On Saturdays, it opens between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Sundays and holidays have no service.
As you leave the Vrouwenakkerbrug, remember its blend of form and function. It connects communities and shows how design can surprise and delight.