Aqueduct Veluwemeer

Water Bridge

The Aqueduct Veluwemeer, in the Netherlands 🇳🇱, turns the conventional bridge concept on its head — here, the water spans across the road.

It's a navigable aqueduct or water bridge. What a beautiful piece of public infrastructure and engineering.

The N302 highway extends from Harderwijk on the Dutch mainland to Flevoland, an island province. The road temporarily descends beneath Lake Veluwemeer to accommodate small vessels and sailboats.

The length is 25m and the width is 19m, and 22,000 m3 of concrete is used to bear the weight of the water above the traffic.

Apparently, this is, officially, the shortest aqueduct in the world.

Anchores steel sheet piling ensures sediment and water do not seep onto the highway.

The water depth at the crossing is not deep, only 3m. So, the passage can handle only small boats and vessels with low drafts.

Opening Year: The aqueduct was opened to traffic in 2002, which was considered more cost-effective than alternatives like drawbridges or tunnels due to the high daily traffic on the N302 (around 28,000 vehicles per day).

Oh, what I would give to go sailing this summer on a little boat on the waters of Europe. I need someone to invite me.

🎥 Floris Hermans