Stoomgemaal De Tuut, Steam pumping station in Appeltern, Netherlands
Stoomgemaal De Tuut is a steam-driven pumping station in Appeltern that originally managed water drainage for the surrounding lowlands. The facility contains original boilers and multiple engines that powered the operation for over a century.
Built between 1917 and 1919, this station was one of eight pumping facilities managing water in the Land van Maas en Waal region. It operated for decades until changing technology and shifting water management needs eventually led to its closure.
The name 'De Tuut' comes from the whistle sound of the steam engines that once punctuated the daily rhythm of the surrounding area. You can still see the machine rooms where workers spent their days amid the noise and heat of these powerful engines.
The site is now a museum where visitors can walk through the restored machine rooms and see the equipment up close. Plan time to explore the different levels and sections at your own pace to fully appreciate how the facility operated.
The station consumed several tons of coal daily when operating, required to keep the steam engines running continuously. This enormous fuel demand reveals how energy-intensive water management was for this rural area in the early 20th century.
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