The new bridge over the Spaarne river is completed! This crossing in the northeast corner of Haarlem relieves a significant volume of traffic from the main draw-bridge by the old chocolate factory and train station. We still use the old bridge because of where we live, but now we don’t have to compete with 15,000,000,000 other Dutch (and German) drivers trying to get to the other side of Haarlem. The new bridge is also a draw-bridge, but it is much higher and only has to be raised for sailboats (not barges), so most traffic is drawn toward the new bridge (pun intended).
This much anticipated opening was accompanied by a full weekend of festivities. Here are some pictures from the opening ceremony.
Fireworks, water canons, and balloons all counted down the first crossing.
Then a long parade went across. In the US we have marching bands...here, it's biking bands. That's talent!
I don't know what the Mad Max club has to do with opening a new bridge, but they sure impressed all of us kids in the crowd.
And speaking of kids, this rowdy group were right across from us on the parade route. Can you get any more stereotypical Dutch?
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