A bascule bridge with a difference: instead of the deck tilting up on a hinge, a mechanical arm physically lifts an entire section of the road into the air and swings it aside to let boats pass. The effect is startling — a square of tarmac, complete with road markings, rises vertically and hangs suspended while ships glide through below.
The bridge crosses the Harlinger Vaart canal on the southern edge of Leeuwarden's centre. It operates throughout the day whenever boats need to pass, so catching it in action requires a bit of luck or patience. The mechanism is painted in bright blue and orange, making the whole event look like a piece of kinetic art. There is a small viewing area on the canal bank. One of the most photographed bridges in the Netherlands, and unlike any other bridge in the world.