Visitors Centre gets a recognisable face

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Every day, it gets easier to see what the completed Visitors Centre will look like. Dozens of builders are working up a sweat on a daily basis, just to make sure we meet the completion deadline in early September. “We’re actually right on schedule”, confides supervisor Gerben Vonk of P. Van Leeuwen Contractors. This Meerkerk-based firm is just one of four main contractors involved in the facelift operation covering the enire entrance zone of the windmill complex.

By now, Vonk has become a familiar face in Kinderdijk. The executive foreman annex supervisor has been in charge of daily operations on all construction sites since October now. “It’s going to be marvellous; this Visitors Centre most of all”, according to the local Alblasserwaard resident. “I’m particularly fond of all this glass we’ve put up here.”

Over the past few weeks, the entire structure has been cladded in a grand total of some sixty glass panels. Every single one of them weighs between 250 and 300 kilos, as Linda Veraa of Tiel-based Metaglas explains. “The whole Visitors Centre is made up of eight glass facades. They comprise a system of sliding windows, doors, and fixed glass elements. The overall process took about 22 weeks to complete, from the drawing board to final assembly. “

Another eye-catching feature of the Visitors Centre’s exterior is its wooden flooring boards. They are bound to make for a great spot to enjoy a drink and a snack pretty soon. Meanwhile, the lucky few who were given a sneak preview of the rooftop terrace jumped at their chance to enjoy the awesome view of the windmill landscape. The grand opening of the Visitors Centre is scheduled for September 7.