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Experience Schinkelbrug

Major lifting operation

On Thursday 24 September 2026, the second bridge deck for the new Schinkelbrug will arrive in Amsterdam by water. That evening, the 235-tonne steel bascule deck will be lifted into position. It is a special occasion, and you can be there. You are welcome to watch the vessel enter the lock and see the bridge deck being lifted into position at close quarters, as well as learn more about the Zuidasdok projects.

What is there to see and do?

Non-alcoholic drinks will be available during this public event, and there will be information stands where you can find out more about Zuidasdok. You can get answers to all your questions about the widening of the A10 Zuid, the regeneration of Amsterdam Zuid station and the construction of the A10 Zuid tunnel. TriAX construction consortium will be there with a 3D model showing what the area around the Schinkel will look like in the future. Waternet will provide more information about its work and its involvement in the Schinkelbrug project. Friesland-based steel construction company Solidd and Rijkswaterstaat will also be there. During the afternoon and evening, we will be holding various lectures, for which you can register below.

Lectures (in Dutch)

Please note: the event is weather-dependent. If the wind is too strong, installation of the bridge deck will be postponed until later that week. We will inform everyone who has registered for the lectures by email as soon as possible about when the event and lectures will take place.

What is the ‘steel bascule deck’?

The steel bascule deck is the movable part of the new Schinkelbrug bridges. It is so large that it cannot possibly be built on site: it is around 24 metres high, almost 14 metres wide and weighs no less than 235 tonnes – the equivalent of 47 adult elephants. For this reason, the bridge deck is prefabricated in Friesland and then transported by ship to Amsterdam via the Wadden Sea and IJsselmeer.

What route will the steel bascule deck take?

The vessel carrying the steel bascule deck will enter Amsterdam via the Oranjesluizen on 22 September. It will then take around four and a half hours to travel the following route: Brug Westerkeersluis > Willemspoorbrug > Kattenslootbrug > Van Halbrug > Beltbrug > Wiegbrug > Kinkerbrug > Overtoomse Sluis > Kabouterbrug > Zeilstraatbrug, after which the vessel will moor at Park Schinkeleilanden. The steel bascule deck will arrive at Nieuwe Meersluis between 16.00 and 16.30 on Tuesday, 24 September.

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Transport brugdek Schinkelbrug

(Click to enlarge)

How will we lift the steel bascule deck into position?

Video

Keeping the lifting operation bat-friendly

Road users, local residents and vessels are not the only ones using the area around the Schinkel. Bats also fly along the water towards De Nieuwe Meer in the evenings and at night. We will take them into account while lifting the bridge deck into position. While we work on the western side of the Schinkel, we will ensure that a clear, dark passage remains available on the eastern side. We will shield lighting as much as possible and prevent unnecessary light from shining onto the water. An ecologist will check the situation beforehand and monitor how the flight route is being used before, during and after the works. This way, we aim to keep the bats’ established flight route intact as much as possible during this special lifting operation.

In April 2026, we installed the first new bridge deck:

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