Eight hundred thousand guilders. That’s how much it cost to build the Kamerlingh Onnesbrug. A hefty sum back in 1960. But what a bridge it is.
Right here before us stands the Kamerlingh Onnesbrug. It’s more than just a bridge though. It’s a testament to post-war ambition. A vital link between Amsterdam and Het Gooi. A connection forged in concrete and steel. The need for a road linking these two areas had been discussed since the 1930s. The Second World War delayed progress considerably.
Construction finally began in the 1950s. The initial design needed major changes to accommodate the growing number of cars. Imagine the scene. Mountains of sand were piled high. A temporary halt to building works occurred due to government spending cuts. Funding for the Kamerlingh Onnesbrug was secured as part of a larger project to build and repair eleven bridges. Four of these were in the Gooiseweg. This included the Kamerlingh Onnesbrug. The Hugo de Vriesbrug and bridge 460. The Kruislaanbrug also benefited from this investment.
The Kamerlingh Onnesbrug’s tunnel measures 11.60 meters wide. By December 1959 most of the construction was complete. The northern carriageway opened to traffic on May 2 1960. It served as a two-way road for a few months. This new three-kilometer stretch connected Prins Bernhardplein to the Harteveldsebrug. Alderman Goos van ‘t Tull performed the official opening ceremony. The Amsterdam Public Works department designed the bridge. The specific architect remains unknown.
This road was part of a wider plan. It aimed to create a continuous route between Het Gooi and Noord-Holland. This route would also include the IJ tunnel. The opening of the Gooiseweg immediately caused traffic problems. The Berlagebrug bore the brunt of the traffic. This was due to roadworks on the Wibautstraat and Weesperstraat.
For years the bridge remained nameless. On December 8 2017 the municipality of Amsterdam named the bridge. The bridge was named after the Kamerlingh Onneslaan. This indirectly honored the physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes. The Kamerlingh Onnesbrug stands as a symbol of Amsterdam’s growth and its enduring connection to its surrounding areas. A concrete reminder of a time of rebuilding and ambition. A bridge built not just of concrete but of dreams.