CUR TravelGuide 02.04.20 - Flipbook - Page 70
THREE QUEENS: THE BRIDGES OF
WILLEMSTAD
It is impossible to miss the three bridges when you take a walk through
Willemstad. The three stately bridges of Willemstad are each named
after a Queen of the Netherlands.
QUEEN EMMA BRIDGE
The bridge was built in 1888 by Leonard Burlington Smith and was
completely renovated in 1939 and 2006. Originally it was a toll bridge.
Individuals without shoes were permitted to cross the bridge without
paying the toll; however, today, a toll is no longer applied. When the
bridge swings open, two ferries spring into action to bring pedestrians
across the water. The ferries are also free of charge. Also known as
The swinging Old Lady.
QUEEN JULIANA BRIDGE
The Queen Juliana Bridge is an inseparable element of the Willemstad
landscape. At 56 meters, it’s the tallest bridge in the Caribbean – high
enough for oil tankers to pass underneath and visitors to enjoy breathtaking panoramas of St. Anna Bay, Punda, Otrobanda, and Schottegat.
The four-lane, blue-and-yellow bridge took 10 years to build and opened
in 1974. If you’re a thrill-seeker you can even rappel from this bridge
under professional guidance!
QUEEN WILHELMINA BRIDGE
Queen Wilhelmina bridges the Waaigat, linking Punda with Scharloo.
Built in 1928, it was originally a drawbridge, but became a fixed bridge
when the wharf in the Waaigat was destroyed. In 2005, a new bridge
was inaugurated.
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