The beginning

After 3 centuries of making plans in 1839 a bill was finally adopted for the reclamation of the Haarlemmermeer, based on the original plan of FG Baron van Lynden van Hemmen (1761-1845). Realization of the reclamation was done by three of them to build pumping stations.

The pumping stations got the names of famous hydraulic engineers: Leeghwater, Lijnden and Cruquius. The construction of the Leeghwater was started in 1845, the construction of the Lijnden and Cruquius began in 1847.

For the design of buildings in the Gothic Revival style drew the Dutch public works engineer in January Anne Beijerinck (1800-1874), while the machines were designed by Joseph Gibbs and Arthur Dean of London.

With balansarmenhun Gothic Revival elements, such as battlements, buttresses, pointed arches and richly ornamented traceerwerk, the beautiful cast-iron elements (stairs, pillars, etc.) in the engine, and of course the huge steam engine itself with poor balance and pumps, these three ground true cathedrals of technique, in which the image of progress was literally cast in iron. Of these three only the Cruquius preserved in its original state.

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