Dodewaard nuclear power plant, Closed nuclear power plant with a boiling water reactor (BWR) of General Electric in the Dutch town of Dodewaard.
The Dodewaard nuclear power plant is a decommissioned facility located near the Waal River in Neder-Betuwe. It operated a boiling water reactor and produced approximately 58 megawatts of electricity, with buildings constructed on an elevated platform 13.2 meters (43 feet) above normal water level to protect against flooding.
Construction began in 1965 and operations commenced on 26 March 1969 with Queen Juliana's participation, making it the Netherlands' first nuclear power station. After nearly 30 years of operation, it was shut down in 1997, reflecting shifted safety concerns following the Harrisburg accident in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986.
The Dodewaard nuclear power plant served as a landmark for the local community and represented the Netherlands' early embrace of nuclear technology. For decades, the site shaped both the physical landscape and the region's identity as a center of industrial progress and employment.
The site is located on Waalbandijk Street in Dodewaard with postal code 6669 MG and remains under security supervision. Visitors should know that public access is restricted and warning signs are posted throughout the grounds for safety purposes.
The site was deliberately built on elevated ground 13.2 meters (43 feet) above normal water level because of its position next to the Waal River, providing essential flood protection. A small harbor once existed nearby to transport cooling water and formed part of a carefully designed logistics system.
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