The Netherland’s Unique Water Bridge

Open since 2002, the Veluwemeer Aqueduct is a stunning work of architecture and engineering. This waterway measures up at a short 25 meters long by 19 meters wide, and is located in Harderwijk, Eastern Netherlands. During the design of this unique passage, engineers chose to construct the waterway over the N302 road, where 28,000 vehicles pass each day.


Veluwemeer is a shallow 3 meter deep water bridge that allows for small boats and other water vehicles to pass with ease. In addition to this easy boating passage, pedestrian walkways are on both sides allowing for foot traffic. Unlike drawbridges or other roadway structures, the water bridge design implemented in this aqueduct allows for constant traffic flow on the road and in the water.

Engineers most likely selected this fascinating design to save money in relation to other waterway passage techniques. A tunnel, an option likely considered, would have required much time and effort with the same end result. A road bridge would also be another likely design consideration but would have meant a larger budget and longer construction. Given that the aqueduct did not need to carry wide water traffic, a smaller water bridge design was selected.