Woudagemaal and IJsselmeer

This is my last post (for now) from the Woudagemaal, showing the backside of the pumping station building and the 4 heavy doors that can regulate the waterflow to and from the IJsselmeer,

Taken from almost the same spot, but looking backwards to the IJsselmeer here. This shallow artificial lake of 1100 km2 borders the Dutch provinces of Flevoland, North Holland and Friesland. The IJsselmeer is the largest lake in Western Europe. If you would like to read more click HERE.

Woudagemaal industrial heritage

I'm following up on last week's posts about the pumping station 'Woudagemaal' in Lemmer. The pumping station, a great example of industrial heritage in our country, is currently used to supplement the existing pumping capacity of the Hooglandgemaal (in the town of Stavoren) in case of exceptionally high water levels in the province of Friesland; this happens a few days per year.
When the Woudagemaal is started up, it takes about 6 hours to have the machines fully operating. After that, 4 people are needed during a day to keep the pumps running.

Both photos were taken inside the pumping station. The sign at the bottom photo saying 'WERKSPOOR N.V. AMSTERDAM' refers to the largest machine factory that existed in the Netherlands in the 19th century, employing over 1,000 people in the year 1850.

A picture from pictures

A 'photo' of the Woudagemaal made from hundreds very small photos was displayed on one of the walls of the visitor centre.

The offices in the Woudagemaal

The Woudagemaal pumping station building was designed by architect H.P. Berlage in Amsterdam School style. This expressionist architectural style was very popular in the Netherlands during the years 1910-1930. The 2 offices inside the building have been renovated but are exactly like they were built 96 years ago.

Old-fashioned light switches at the wall, very nostalgic! I remember those switches from the house of my grandparents in the 1970s..

Turning, turning

I enjoyed photographing inside the pumping station building of the Woudagemaal and to focus on details..

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!