Victor Neels Bridge, Suspension footbridge in Schleiden, Germany.
The Victor Neels Bridge is a steel suspension footbridge with four cables spanning the Urftsee reservoir in the Eifel National Park. A steel pylon about 20 metres high, inclined at 17° to the slope and guyed by two cables, stands on the eastern shore; two reinforced-concrete discs anchor the cables on the western shore. The walkway has an aluminium deck and steel railings with wire mesh, and is built barrier-free.
The bridge opened in 2009 and created a new link between hiking paths around the Urftsee. This structure made it possible to connect previously separated sections of the walking network throughout the park.
The bridge is named after Victor Neels, commander of the Belgian forces at Camp Vogelsang from 1970 to 1980, honoured for his social efforts toward the local population. He received the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande in 1975 and the Grand Cross in 1980. The naming took place in December 2009 by Landrat Günter Rosenke.
Access to the bridge comes from marked hiking trails that begin near designated parking areas. Visitors should be aware that the structure sways gently with foot traffic, especially when multiple people cross together.
The bridge was named in December 2009 after Victor Neels (1925–2025), commander of the Belgian forces at Camp Vogelsang from 1970 to 1980. He received the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 1975 and its Grand Cross in 1980 for his efforts at reconciliation with the local population.
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