The Plofsluis lock served to quickly dam the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal in case of a threat of war to prevent water from the surrounding areas from draining through the canal in case of inundation. Construction of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal, which widened and partially replaced the Merwede Canal, began in 1934. Construction would create a gap in the Water Line. The Plofsluis lock provided a solution to this, which on the one hand would not hinder shipping traffic and on the other hand could quickly close off the canal.
The Plofsluis is essentially a special floodgate, which is not accessible to traffic, although the sign indicates it is called the Heemstederbrug. It is the only large-scale floodgate in the world that is activated by an explosion. However, there are smaller structures based on the same operating principle, known as ‘plofduikers’.
Above the Am...
The Plofsluis lock served to quickly dam the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal in case of a threat of war to prevent water from the surrounding areas from draining through the canal in case of inundation. Construction of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal, which widened and partially replaced the Merwede Canal, began in 1934. Construction would create a gap in the Water Line. The Plofsluis lock provided a solution to this, which on the one hand would not hinder shipping traffic and on the other hand could quickly close off the canal.
The Plofsluis is essentially a special floodgate, which is not accessible to traffic, although the sign indicates it is called the Heemstederbrug. It is the only large-scale floodgate in the world that is activated by an explosion. However, there are smaller structures based on the same operating principle, known as ‘plofduikers’.
Above the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal lies a series of five concrete compartments with a relatively weak base. The compartments could hold approximately 40,000 tonnes of sand, gravel or rubble. In the event of a threat of war, the base would be blown up, causing the contents to pour into the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. This would block the canal, preventing the floodwater from draining away. The lock was designed in such a way that the side walls would remain intact during the explosion, so that the floor could be repaired to allow the lock to be used again.[1] It was ultimately never activated.
The lock is approximately 70 metres long, 40 metres wide and 8.5 metres high. The bottom was situated approximately 6 metres above the canal level. The structure features a single central, elongated, rounded concrete pier with a navigation opening on either side, as well as heavy concrete abutments. Construction of this lock began in 1937. The lock was not yet complete when the Second World War broke out in the Netherlands, but it was finished in 1942 with the help of the German occupiers. Four cast-steel domed casemates, each with a waiting room and walls 17 centimetres thick, were built near the drop-gate lock to defend the structure.