Erasmus Bridge is locally known as Erasmusburg, which is a combination of a bascule and cable-stayed bridge. The bridge’s construction started back in 1986, and it was completed in a decade, just around 1996. The bridge crosses the Nieuwe Mass in Rotterdam’s center – it was a perfect idea to connect the southern and northern parts of the city.

This is the second biggest bridge in the Netherlands and got its name in 1992 after Desiderius Erasmus, who has a well-known humanist. It’s safe to say that Erasmus Bridge is one of the most important historical landmarks of the city, which is one of the reasons it has become the city’s logo. So, in case you need more information, we have more details!

The History

This is an802m long bridge that’s designed and installed across the New Meuse – the bridge was designed by Ben van Berkel and was marked completed in 1996. The cable-stayed part of the bridge has an asymmetrical pylon in pale blue color, which also has a prominent horizontal base – it is actually called “The Swan.” The southern side of the bride has an89m long bascule bridge specifically designed for the ships that cannot pass from under the bridge.

The bascule bridge is one of the heaviest and largest bridges in Western Europe is Erasmusbrug Rotterdam which is known to have the biggest panel. The construction of this bridge cost around 165 million euros. The bridge was inaugurated by Queen Beatrix in 1996. However, when the bridge was opened to the public, it was identified that the bridge would literally swing if the wind conditions got stronger enough. For this reason, the high-end shock dampers were installed – yes, it helped fix the trembling and swinging.

There are bike tours in Rotterdam that allow the users to see this bridge, with which you can also cross the bridge to get tothe historic town of Delfshaven. For those who don’t know, this neighborhood has its amazing industrial heritage, and there is Montevideo, which is a residential skyscraper. On the other side of the bridge, there is Veerhaven, which is known for its historic ships and amazing buildings.

Design

When the bridge had to be designed, multiple alternative designs were proposed, and Ben van Berkel showed his design in 1990. This proposed design didn’t have the back stays for the pylon, and various other design changes were made during the engineering feasibility studies. They actually used the sixty-ton trucks as the bending force into the pylon, and back stays had to be added to minimize the bending force.

For this reason, the initial design had the 150m high concrete pylon, but it was made into a 139m high steel pylon. The bridge’s appearance wasn’t changed during the design process and actually played an essential role in the selection of this bridge. The city council was responsible for selecting the backward-leaning pylon. It’s safe to say that this bridge is the ultimate result of the unique design process where engineers and architects worked hand in hand.

Given the joint efforts of engineers and designers, the bridge came out aesthetically and technically pleasing. The sleek decks aren’t only aesthetically pleasing but also help with clear shipping height. In addition, the engineers have added steel tubes in the concrete piers to provide support to the bridge while architects designed concrete forms around the internal steel tubes in the form of sculpture – it’s an apt combination of design and functionality.

The Events

It’s safe to say that this is the most amazing bridge between the Netherlands and Western Europe, which is why it has been an important part of the events. For instance, it was featured in the movie, “Who Am I?” back in 1998, and various planes have flown underneath the bridge during the Red Bull Air Race. On top of everything, the bridge was crossed and was the opening stage for the Tour de France in the 2010 – 2015 edition also used this bridge as a crossing.

The Bottom Line

On a concluding note, this bridge is an important highlight for people who are going to Rotterdam and want to enjoy the architectural sites that amaze mankind to this day. In addition to visiting the bridge, it’s recommended that you go to the top of the Euromast to enjoy the bridge’s mesmerizing view!