Around 1986 a new Diemerbrug was built. This wasn’t the first Diemerbrug. An earlier wooden bridge stood nearby. It was much smaller. It marked a significant point. Diemen had two centers then. One was Oud Diemen. The other was Diemerbrug.
The Diemerbrug’s location was crucial. It connected Amsterdam to the Utrechtse Vecht. This water route was important for trade. The bridge became Diemen’s central point. It was where north-south and east-west roads met. Buildings around the original Diemerbrug had to be removed. This was in the 1920s and 1930s. The Muiderstraatweg and Hartveldseweg needed widening. They were becoming a major Rijksweg.
A new Diemerbrug was built near the Burgemeester Bickerstraat. It was electrically operated. A small building housed the controls. This building also served as a bridge keeper’s house. Later a new bridge control center was built. This was the Venserbrug. It controlled both Diemerbrug and Venserbrug.
In the 1980s Rijkswaterstaat oversaw the construction of yet another Diemerbrug. This one was needed for the new Diemen-Zuid residential area. The bridge connected to Rijksweg 1. The old bridge keeper’s house remained untouched.
In the late 1980s Rijksweg 1 was moved. This allowed Diemen to reconstruct the Hartveldseweg and Muiderstraatweg. The town also took over bridge management. The Diemerbrug was widened in 2001. In 2004 Diemen took full control of the Diemerbrug from Rijkswaterstaat. Today GVB bus route 44 crosses the Diemerbrug. This modern Diemerbrug stands as a testament to Diemen’s growth. It reflects the town’s transformation from an agricultural village to a modern commuter town. The Diemerbrug is a vital link in Diemen’s present. It’s a lasting symbol of its remarkable history.