Vlietermonument

The inscription under the relief plaque by artist Hildo Krop dei placed in 1935.

Renewal

The Afsluitdijk, under the supervision of Paul de Ruiter and Yttje Feddes, underwent complete reinforcement, renewal, and preservation in recent years. Like the Afsluitdijk, the Vlietermonument is also in need of renewal.

Renovation

The Vlietermonument is located at the Vlieter, where the Afsluitdijk was closed on 28 May 1932. The Vlietermonument is of great historical significance. It is a monument in the form of a watchtower, designed by architect Willem Dudok. The tower was built in 1933. It is a point of remembrance and a symbol of the iconic Afsluitdijk. The monument is almost 90 years old and needs a thorough refurbishment as the harsh sea climate has affected it.

Expanding the Vlietermonument

The Vlietermonument receives around 300,000 visitors a year. The number of visitors is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. The current building is not suitable for this and no longer meets current requirements. The meeting and catering function needs to be expanded. Paul de Ruiter Architects was asked to restore and expand the current Vlietermonument so that it meets the program of requirements and ambitions in terms of sustainability. The architectural strength of the Monument lies in the strong contrast between the 'nimble' vertical tower and the heavy horizontal ground wall of the Afsluitdijk. To preserve the monument's value, the catering function hidden in the embankment will be extended symmetrically to the left and right of the watchtower invisibly from the motorway. From the IJsselmeer, two symmetrical glass volumes with wide views over the IJsselmeer will be extended on both sides of the steps of the monument.

Design task

The design process will focus on expanding into the embankment, the relationship to the water, and the careful restoration of the monument. The complexity of the task lies in the various interventions to be made to the monument, the way in which the building can be done in the flood defense and under a square, and the ambitions to make the new building autarkic. This requires an integral design approach and intensive cooperation with advisers. It also requires precise coordination with various stakeholders, including the Levvel consortium renewing the Afsluitdijk, the licensing authorities, and the National Authority for Cultural Heritage.