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Westerdok
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Westerdok
Westerdok (Western Dock) is a former wet dock in Amsterdam. It was created in 1830–1834 by constructing the Westerdoksdam and Westerdoksluis, forming a reliable deep port closed off from the tidal IJ. It lost its function in 1876 when the North Sea Canal was opened. About half of it has since been filled up.
The construction of the wet dock Westerdok came about by the gradual silting up of the harbor of Amsterdam. For this background and the plans to build the Westerdok, see Oosterdok.
The Westerdoksdam was a 2,010 m long dyke constructed through the IJ from the west bank of the Haarlemmersluis in the Martelaarsgracht to the Spaarndammerdijk. By July 1831, this dyke around the dock gave cover to ships lying in the proposed wet dock, but was far from complete. By July 1834 the dyke was almost finished, an openinghad been left to allow shipping till the Westerdok Lock was completed.
The foundation of the Westerdok Lock (Westerdoksluis) were started in 1830. The first pile was driven in on 21 July 1830. Work on the foundations were delayed by weak and shifting grounds. The commemorative stone of the lock was set on 19 September 1832. The lock was first used on 19 September 1834, opening the Westerdok.
The Westerdok was a wet dock. It meant that inside the area closed off by the Westerdok Lock, the water level remained more or less constant. I.e. it was not influenced by the tides. The dock was also dredged out, so the largest Dutch ships could use it. The wet dock was very beneficial for shipping, because ships could much easier transload to boats and barges.
On the Westerdok about a dozen shipyards were situated on Bickerseiland. These profited by being able to launch bigger ships. Also on Bickerseiland was the sugar refinery Java of the Amsterdamsche Stoom Suikerraffinaderij. This would get a pier which allowed direct loading and unloading from ships in the Westerdok. The refinery burned down in 1874 and was not rebuilt.
A special feature of the Westerdok was Drydock II of the Rederij der Drijvende Droogdokken, a company that provided service by floating dry docks.
The North Sea Canal was constructed between 1865 and 1876. Part of its construction was the closure of the IJ on the east side by building the Oranje Locks. It meant that the whole IJ got the same characteristics as the Westerdok wet dock. Instead of protecting a safe harbor, the Westerdok Lock became an impediment to ships that wanted to unload in Amsterdam.
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Westerdok AI simulator
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Westerdok
Westerdok (Western Dock) is a former wet dock in Amsterdam. It was created in 1830–1834 by constructing the Westerdoksdam and Westerdoksluis, forming a reliable deep port closed off from the tidal IJ. It lost its function in 1876 when the North Sea Canal was opened. About half of it has since been filled up.
The construction of the wet dock Westerdok came about by the gradual silting up of the harbor of Amsterdam. For this background and the plans to build the Westerdok, see Oosterdok.
The Westerdoksdam was a 2,010 m long dyke constructed through the IJ from the west bank of the Haarlemmersluis in the Martelaarsgracht to the Spaarndammerdijk. By July 1831, this dyke around the dock gave cover to ships lying in the proposed wet dock, but was far from complete. By July 1834 the dyke was almost finished, an openinghad been left to allow shipping till the Westerdok Lock was completed.
The foundation of the Westerdok Lock (Westerdoksluis) were started in 1830. The first pile was driven in on 21 July 1830. Work on the foundations were delayed by weak and shifting grounds. The commemorative stone of the lock was set on 19 September 1832. The lock was first used on 19 September 1834, opening the Westerdok.
The Westerdok was a wet dock. It meant that inside the area closed off by the Westerdok Lock, the water level remained more or less constant. I.e. it was not influenced by the tides. The dock was also dredged out, so the largest Dutch ships could use it. The wet dock was very beneficial for shipping, because ships could much easier transload to boats and barges.
On the Westerdok about a dozen shipyards were situated on Bickerseiland. These profited by being able to launch bigger ships. Also on Bickerseiland was the sugar refinery Java of the Amsterdamsche Stoom Suikerraffinaderij. This would get a pier which allowed direct loading and unloading from ships in the Westerdok. The refinery burned down in 1874 and was not rebuilt.
A special feature of the Westerdok was Drydock II of the Rederij der Drijvende Droogdokken, a company that provided service by floating dry docks.
The North Sea Canal was constructed between 1865 and 1876. Part of its construction was the closure of the IJ on the east side by building the Oranje Locks. It meant that the whole IJ got the same characteristics as the Westerdok wet dock. Instead of protecting a safe harbor, the Westerdok Lock became an impediment to ships that wanted to unload in Amsterdam.
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