Save the date: FestiVAL Schinkelbrug on 22 September

The steel bascule deck is the movable section of the new Schinkelbrug bridges. It is so large that it would be impossible to build it on site: it is around 24 metres high, almost 14 metres wide and weighs an impressive 235 tonnes (the equivalent of 47 adult elephants). The bridge deck is therefore prefabricated in Friesland before being transported by ship across the Wadden Sea and IJsselmeer to Amsterdam. Earlier this year, the steel bascule deck for the new Schinkelbrug on the southern side already made the spectacular journey. On 22 September 2026, the bascule deck for the new bridge on the northern side will make the same journey.

On Tuesday, 22 September, the vessel will enter the Nieuwe Meersluis between 16.00 and 16.30. As last time, you can follow the multi-day journey live via our webcam. But this time, there is more: you can come and watch up close as we lift the bridge deck into position that evening. And we are making an event of it. During ‘FestiVAL’, there will be a series of talks and beer-hall tables where you can sit down with a (non-alcoholic) drink. There will, of course, also be several information stands about Zuidasdok, where you can get answers to all your questions about the widening of the A10 Zuid, the expansion of Amsterdam Zuid station and the construction of the A10 tunnel. We will then watch the impressive lifting operation together.

As part of the widening of the A10 Zuid, we will also increase the number of bridges across the Schinkel over the coming years. The Schinkelbrug currently consists of five movable bridges: two for motorway traffic, two for trains and one for the metro. We will demolish the southernmost and oldest road bridge and replace it with two new bridges. We are also building two additional bridges for traffic heading into Amsterdam: one on the northern side and one on the southern side of the existing Schinkelbrug. The new southern bridge will also have a new cycle path across the Schinkel.