Send me and e-mail if you climbed it!
| Climbing the Hef lift-bridge | The "Hef" was built in 1927 and it is 72 meters high. This railway bridge is not in use anymore since the railway-tunnel was built. It was saved from demolition by a public outcry and it is now treasured as an industrial monument. Here you see the view from the Noordereiland. |
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It might be quite easy to get on top. There are safe stairs going all the way to the top. Once you're on top there should be a nice platform. |
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You have to climb one high and nasty fence. It is difficult to see in the picture, but the sign "Danger, do not enter" is attached to it. The best access is from the North side. One of the columns on the left has a ladder-structure and might be climbed safely using a "top rope". |
| The bridge is not lighted at night. The only light
are the street-lamps that stand quite close to the
bridge. Saturday 14 November 1998 - Took a walk along the "Hef" bridge. Tried to figure out how to get on top. Friday 13 November 1998 - Borrowed a book about the history of the "Hef" lift bridge. Will update the story about Lou Vlasblom who on Saturday afternoon (15:30), 14 January 1933 dived off this bridge (70m), made two salto's and landed safely in the water. |
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Climbing the reconstructed
"Delftsche Poort" This artwork is (a very successful) full-size reconstruction of the last city-gate of Rotterdam. The original was destroyed during the German bombardment in WWII. It is made of steel beams, pipes, plates and ornaments. To emphasize the "reconstruction" it is painted bright, technical, orange. I really like this piece. It should be easy to climb because there are a lot of ladder-like structures along the vertical beams and a lot of complex ornaments at the top. The only complication are the police headquarters at the other side of the road. |
| Climbing he arch of "Blaak" train-station |  |
| The arch of this train station is one of the well
known landmarks of the city. It's also nicknamed
"The tea-kettle" and "The pregnant
oyster". The bulding in the background is nicknamed
"The pencil". Several transport facilities cross here:
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| The airy construction was necessary to equalize air-pressure when trains drive through the tunnel. Otherwise train passengers would be blown off the platform. |  |
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The arch should be very easy to climb. One tricky
point is where you cross over the the electricity wires
of the streetcar. Not a good point for an abseil. Also
you would be spotted quickly, so speed is essential. Historic note: Before the train-tunnel was built there was a nice old train station at this place. Here you see a photograph by a classic Rotterdam photographer whose name I've forgotten. (I'm sorry, I'll look it up in the library). |
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© 1998 Petr Kazil - 28 December 1998