When the municipality of Opsterland, a group of several villages in the north of the Netherlands, was planning to build a new housing estate (Loevestein), they needed a bridge to connect the estate to the main road. Four parties were asked to come up with a design concept. The design needed to fit in with the rural surroundings and was required to refer to the locations history as a peatery. Design and engineering office ipv Delft and engineering firm DHV together made the winning design. Local stakeholders and locals played a big role in the entire process, as they got to decide to a large extent what the basic requirements for the design would be. They were also involved in choosing the winning design.
Design The design of the bridge for locals strongly refers to the locations history. The shape of the horizontal counterweight resembles what in the 17th century was called a ‘lawei’: a high pole from which a bucket was hung that indicated working hours for peatery workers in the surrounding area.
The railings refer to the rural surroundings, with the vertical elements representing reed beds found along rivers in the area.
Boating The drawbridge crosses a canal called the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart, which is popular for recreational boating. An approximate 2000 boats pass the bridge each year.
