Picture the Wipbrug a wooden drawbridge in Amsterdam-Noord. It stands halfway along the Liergouw a road between Schellingwoude and Ransdorp. The Liergouw is flanked by ditches. The Zwanekesloot a drainage ditch intersects them at a right angle. This ditch once led to the Durgerdammer Die a now-poldered lake.
The Wipbrug you see today dates back to 1925. Around that time at least four similar bridges were built in the area. These were all newly part of Amsterdam. The Bakkersbrug Gerrit Vreeling’s Postje and bridge 380 all shared the Wipbrug’s design. Only Gerrit Vreeling’s Postje has a 1931 date stone. The Wipbrug’s installation took five months. A temporary bridge handled traffic during construction.
Notice the Wipbrug’s unique features. The top beam extends several centimeters beyond the hoisting mechanism on both sides. The hoisting mechanism isn’t a semicircle but a half-ellipse. There is a small decoration where the beam and mechanism meet. Since the area belonged to Amsterdam the design likely originated from the Public Works Department. The designer remains unknown. In spring 1952 the Wipbrug underwent minor repairs completed in a single day.
The name Wipbrug simply refers to the bridge type. It could have been used for other bridges. Although the name wasn’t originally on the bridge it gained official status. A white strip on the bridge now displays the name.
In late summer 2019 the Wipbrug faced challenges. The Liergouw and the bridge needed strengthening for heavier traffic. This was due to the reinforcement of the Durgerdammerdijk and Uitdammerdijk. The Wipbrug couldn’t handle the increased traffic. It was dismantled in September 2019. The upper structure was moved to nearby meadows. A new bridge deck was installed. In November 2020 the substructure was also reinforced. Whether the bridge will be restored to its original state is uncertain. The current situation must remain until 2025-2027. The Wipbrug a small but significant part of Amsterdam’s history.