27 oktober 2014

Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal


Yesterday we visited the ir. D.F. Woudagemaal in Lemmer, the largest steam-driven pumping station in the world still in use. Opened in 1920 by Queen Wilhelmina, even today the monumental pumping station ensures that the people in the province of Friesland keep their feet dry during high water.


We joined a guided tour (the man on the photo was our guide) through the building. Here, over 4 million litres of water per minute can be pumped from the Friesian 'boezem' (drainage pool) into the IJsselmeer.
Since 1998 the Woudagemaal is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as 'a highlight of the Dutch hydraulic engineering', as it shows in a special manner how man controls nature by steam power.
More photos to follow!

5 opmerkingen:

  1. Three cheers for dry feet and for the engineers who keep them that way! :-)

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  2. I love visiting places like this, especially with a guide! Can't wait to see more.

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  3. Quite impressive, both the building and the equipment.

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  4. Dat moet een leuk bezoek zijn geweest, ben benieuwd naar de andere foto's.

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