EXCURSION TO MUSEUMWERF VREESWIJK ON WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER

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On 6 November, I attended the presentation of the book "Ship Bridges 1600-1952" and the official opening of the temporary exhibition "To the other side?" Both activities took place at the Museumwerf in the middle of Vreeswijk on the Vaartse Rijn near the intersection of ancient waterways. A special place for those interested in history of engineering.

In 1856, Adrianus Buitenweg took over the shipyard at the Oude Sluis in Vreeswijk. The shipyard prospered but could not grow at that location. The family therefore moved to the current location in the early 20th century. The portfolio was well filled with new construction, maintenance and conversion of sailing to motor ships. After World War II, there was plenty of work, so much so that a larger transverse slipway was built. However, this proved too small after only a few years when the growing economy started to demand larger inland vessels. This, together with increasingly stringent environmental requirements, forced the fourth generation of Buitenweg to close the shipyard.

The repurposing of barges, clippers and tjalks that had been laid up from commercial shipping called for shipyards where maintenance and repair could be done in the traditional way. This yard in Vreeswijk was ideal for that. Years of planning, calculating, weighing things up followed. Finally, the decision was made: Museumwerf Vreeswijk was a fact. A working traditional shipyard combined with a (small) museum about Dutch inland navigation and its waterways.

In addition to the permanent collection, there is now the temporary exhibition "To the other side?" In words and images, the exhibition shows the story of the crossing of the formerly much more erratic and dangerous Lek between Vreeswijk and Vianen. The crossing that has been crucial to the north-south connection for many centuries. A crossing first by ferries, then over the ship bridge and from 1936 over the fixed arch bridge. Fifty years later, it had become a bottleneck with daily long traffic jams from the exploding number of cars.

Members of Histechnica and the History of Engineering Section of KIVI are hereby invited to join the next excursion:

Date Wednesday 3 December from 11 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m

Location Museumwerf Vreeswijk at Wierselaan 113 in Vreeswijk/Nieuwegein

Programme:

  • 11.00 h reception with coffee/tea
  • 11.15 hrs introduction and guided tour
  • 12.30h lunch
  • 13.30h visit of the museum
  • 15.00 hours coffee/tea and closing

Cost € 40.00 per person

There is room for 15 interested people that day.

REGISTER:

Please send an e-mail to g.j.luijendijk@xs4all.nl