De Hef, Vertical-lift steel railway bridge in Feijenoord, Netherlands
De Hef is a vertical-lift railway crossing in the Feijenoord neighborhood of Rotterdam that spans the Koningshaven waterway. The steel structure rests on two towers rising 60 meters above ground, while the central span measures 79 meters across.
Architect Pieter Joosting designed the crossing, which opened in 1927 to replace an older swing structure from 1878. The previous design suffered frequent damage from collisions with passing vessels, prompting the need for a taller lifting mechanism.
Joris Ivens filmed this railway crossing in 1928 for his short documentary 'De brug', capturing the mechanical motion of the lifting mechanism. The film shows workers and machinery in action during an ordinary workday and became an important piece of early European cinema.
The structure has remained in raised position since 1993, after rail traffic ended due to the opening of the Willemspoortunnel below the channel. Visitors can view the steel framework from the waterfront and walk along the harbor basin for different angles.
In 2022, a proposal surfaced to temporarily dismantle the towers to allow a large private sailing vessel to pass through the harbor. The plan was later dropped after sparking public protests throughout the city.
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