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Wilhelminabrug Sculptures

Wilhelminabrug Sculptures

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Wilhelminabrug Sculptures

Recommended by 48 hikers out of 51

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Location: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

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Tips

Isi-Sicilia

December 7, 2023

These reliefs, located on two separate semicircular columns, are sculptures from the former Wilhelmina Bridge, which was demolished in 1959. These sculptures originally stood on the pillars of the bridge. They show the history of Maastricht.
There are boards on the sculptures for further reading.

Translated by Google •

Stephan N

September 9, 2025

The Wilhelmina Bridge did not survive the Second World War. Maastricht did not get to enjoy its new bridge for long. On May 10, 1940, just eight years after its opening, the steel span was blown up on the orders of the Dutch Army Command. The German advance did not suffer much; a temporary bridge had already been built over the breach on May 13. During the German occupation, the name was changed to Antoniusbrug in 1942. The German Wehrmacht, which withdrew in 1944, took a much more rigorous approach. On September 13, 1944, the day Wyck was liberated and just one day before the liberation of Maastricht itself, the Wilhelmina Bridge was completely destroyed and blown up by retreating German soldiers. The explosion was so powerful that large pieces of steel floated through the air, leaving the city without drinking water and electricity for quite some time. Unlike the Sint-Servaas Bridge, which sustained only minor damage, the Wilhelmina Bridge was completely destroyed; Only the pillars remained above water. However, on December 15 of that year, a temporary concrete bridge built by the Allies was put into operation.
Only after much discussion with Rijkswaterstaat was the new bridge designed and rebuilt between 1957 and 1960, albeit not in its original form. The steel section over the now-filled canal and the five stone arches were replaced by three steel spans. Subsequently, several pillars were removed, as were the natural stone reliefs by Hendrik van den Eijnde. The bas-reliefs were removed and stored at the Maastricht Public Works in Limmel.
They eventually ended up as separate pieces in Griendpark on the east bank of the Meuse.
The sculptures depict six local historical scenes: the entry of the Romans, the entry of Saint Servatius, the invasion of the Normans, Duke Henry I of Brabant granting Maastricht the right to encircle the walls, the signing of the "Alde Caerte," and the entry of King William.
Source:
items.amsterdamse-school.nl/details/objects/1638

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 60 m

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Location: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

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Wilhelminabrug Sculptures

1. Bemelerberg Cave – Marl Cliff along the Geul loop from Bemelen

2. ENCI Quarry Viewpoint – Sint Servaas Bridge loop from De Karosseer

3. Fort Sint Pieter – Jeker River at Molen Nekum loop from Maastricht

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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