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16 January 2019

New construction is on schedule

As King Winter has yet to show his true face this year, we are using the opportunity to keep up the pace of construction work here at Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage. So far, realisation of the new entrance zone and Visitors Centre are well on schedule.

The Overwaard-side entrance zone is slowly taking shape. Brick by brick, the contour of Secundairy Pumping Station De Fabriek is edging skywards, while the Group Entrance and Nature Cottage are now in upright position, too. Construction is about to start on a duo of walkways: one connecting the drop-off and boarding zone to the entrance zone, and another leading to the Middelkade quay from there. As we speak, some of the piles supporting the structures are already in the ground.

Construction of De Fabriek Auxiliary Pumping Station is making steady progress.

Construction of De Fabriek Auxiliary Pumping Station is making steady progress.

Local Kinderdijk residents regularly join the tourists as they take an inquisitive peek at the building activities underway next to the Nederwaard parking lot. The plot is already dotted with piles driven into the polder soil to support the Visitors Centre. Over the past few days, retaining walls have been placed in the Overwaard Lower Basin. Part of the Visitors Centre will be rising up from the water once completed: the submerged part will contain the kitchen and restrooms, among other facilities.

 

Working on the retaining walls.

Working on the retaining walls.

If the weather forecasts are anything to go by, winter is going to make a serious attempt to lay its icy grasp on the Netherlands next week. If worst comes to worst, serious sub-zero conditions could cause delays, but we are continuing to make good headway for now. The entrance zone has to be finished by the time a new round of guests starts to arrive as the new season kicks off in March. The Visitors Centre has its grand opening scheduled for the beginning of September.

The Group Entrance.

The Group Entrance.

The recent spate of adjustments and renovations at Kinderdijk UNESCO World Heritage are necessary to better direct and streamline the increasing flow of tourists visiting. In the near future, all groups will enter the World Heritage site on the Overwaard side of the premises. Individual visitors, on the other hand, wander or cycle onto the World Heritage grounds on the Nederwaard side across the water. Overall investments made to prepare Kinderdijk World Heritage for the future ahead amount to some nine million euros.

 

The spot where the new Visitors Centre is due to arise.

The spot where the new Visitors Centre is due to arise.

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