At a well-attended New Year's meeting, we were given an extensive and fascinating talk by Mr Martin Bunnik on the origins of the Amsterdam Dune Water Company at Leyduin on the border of Heemstede and Aerdenhout. It was at this location that Martin went through his first internship and gained a passion for the waterworks. But he never worked there, as after his studies he started as a designer of process automation systems and later in life was a project and quality manager in the process industry and rail infrastructure.

After retirement, he is active among others in the Historical Society Heemstede Bennebroek doing historical research, publishing articles and giving lectures and tours.

Triggered, among other things, by the TV programme on the 'Iron Age (Amsterdam that colossal city)' - in which claims were made that were not correct - Martin immersed himself in history in 2015/2016. Particularly about Jacob van Lennep's role in the creation and operation of the Amsterdam waterworks, there were quite a few anecdotes and statements in various publications that were illogical.

Title and subtitle of the lecture: Amsterdam's drinking water perils -'How restful on earth must the rabbit, which never drinks water, be' (sighed an Amsterdammer after yet another problem with the water company).

The city of Amsterdam had only one problem we read in a historical description from 1663: it stank like hell. The canals functioned as an open sewer in which everything floated like dead animals and the contents of thousands of privies. Drinking water for Amsterdam was brought in by ships from the Vecht because Amsterdam's canals were too polluted to make good drinking water. But the poor could hardly afford this water and had to rely on the canal or the rain barrel, resulting in many Amsterdammers succumbing to typhoid and cholera.

Again and again, plans were developed by the Amsterdam city council to improve the situation but not much came of implementation. The best way to escape the city was to buy a country house, but of course that was something only the wealthier strata of the population could afford. In 1845, a plan emerged to bring dune water from Heemstede to Amsterdam using the most modern techniques, devised by engineer C.D. Vaillant (not Jacob van Lennep). Work began in 1851. The Oranjekom was dug and a very modern steam pumping station was built on the Leidsevaart at that time, bringing the water to the capital through cast-iron pipes. On 12 December 1853, every Amsterdammer could buy the pure dune water for the first time at the Willemspoort (now Haarlemmerpoort) for 1 cent the bucket. The beginning of public drinking water supply in the Netherlands was a fact. As hygiene improved, the number of Amsterdammers succumbing to typhoid and cholera fell sharply.

In 1896, the private Amsterdam Duinwater Maatschappij was taken over by the municipality of Amsterdam. At the beginning of the 20th century, its director Ir. Pennink proposed irrigating the dune area with pre-purified Rhine water to prevent the intrusion of salty water. After 15 years of fierce discussions between city council and director but also within the top of the company, the proposal was rejected and the director honorably dismissed. He was not vindicated but he was vindicated because eventually, in 1954, a 78-kilometre transport pipeline from the Lekkanaal canal was built to irrigate fresh Rhine water in the area of the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes.

The lecture showed historical photos, drawings, process diagrams and maps on the development of the waterworks between 1851 and 2019. A compliment to Martin Bunnik was that drinking water specialists present were able to complement him, but not correct him.

The board of KIVI Region North Holland has the pleasure of inviting you to attend a talk by Mr Martin Bunnik on the origins of the Amsterdam Dune Water Company at Leyduin on the border of Heemstede and Aerdenhout.

The city of Amsterdam had only one problem we read in a historical description from 1663: it stank like hell. The canals functioned as an open sewer where everything floated like dead animals and the contents of thousands of privies. The drinking water for Amsterdam was brought in by ships from the Vecht because the Amsterdam canals were too polluted to make good drinking water. Again and again, plans were developed by the Amsterdam city council to improve the situation but not much came of implementation. In the mid-19th century, a plan emerged to bring dune water from Heemstede to Amsterdam using the most modern techniques, devised by engineer C.D. Vaillant (not Jacob van Lennep).

The lecture shows how the Duinwater Maatschappij came about, who was involved and what problems were overcome. Historical photos, drawings, process diagrams and maps will be used to illustrate the development of the company between 1851 and 2019.

Programme

12:00 - 13:30: Reception with drinks, followed by coffee table

13:30 - 15:00: Lecture by Martin Bunnik

Information about the speaker

After his studies, Martin worked as a designer of process automation systems and later in life in the process industry in the position of project manager. After his retirement, he is active among others in the Historical Society Heemstede Bennebroek doing historical research, publishing articles and giving lectures and guided tours.

Details and registration

Contribution KIVI members in costs for lunch € 15. Contribution non KIVI members € 40,= (including 2 months KIVI donor membership) to be paid in advance upon registration via the KIVI website.

Please note: KIVI members need to be logged in first when registering. Then the correct registration form will appear.

The regional board wishes you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a good start of the new year!

Kind regards,

Tim Timmermans Chairman KIVI Region Noord-Holland.