Bridge with the twelve arches, Military bridge in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Bridge with the Twelve Arches is a stone crossing spanning water in Utrecht, featuring twelve distinct barrel vaults as its load-bearing structure. It was originally built to carry both foot traffic and cart passage across a waterway.
It was built as part of the Kromhoutkazerne military compound, a barracks complex developed during the modern era. The structure received protected monument status when listed as a Rijksmonument in 2006.
The bridge was designed as a military crossing to connect different parts of a barracks complex, showing how practical needs shaped its construction. Visitors can observe how this functional purpose remains visible in the way the structure is built and used today.
The bridge is open to both pedestrians and vehicles, located at an accessible point in Utrecht's layout. Visiting during daylight hours allows you to see the stonework details and overall design more clearly.
The twelve arches are remarkably uniform in size and spacing, demonstrating the stonemasons' precision and planning skills from the time of construction. This consistency across the entire structure reveals how carefully the builders worked to achieve balanced proportions.
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