The Queen Emma Bridge ( nl, Koningin Emmabrug; pap, Brùg di Ponton, Brùg di Punda) is a

pontoon bridge A pontoon bridge (or ponton bridge), also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallow-draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. The buoyancy of the supports limits the maximum load that they can carry. ...

across St. Anna Bay in Curaçao. It connects the Punda and

Otrobanda Otrobanda is one of the historic quarters of Willemstad, located at the southwest side of the city, in Curaçao. Otrobanda was founded in 1707, and has been designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. History Otrobanda was founded in 1707 as a subur ...

quarters of the capital city,

Willemstad Willemstad ( , ; ; en, William Town, italic=yes) is the capital city of Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was the capital of the Netherlands Antilles pr ...

. It was named after

Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Adelheid Emma Wilhelmina Theresia; 2 August 1858 – 20 March 1934) was Queen of the Netherlands and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as the wife of King-Grand Duke William III. An immensely popular member of the Dutch ...

, who was queen consort of the Netherlands during its construction. The bridge is hinged and opens regularly to enable the passage of oceangoing vessels. On the opposite end from the hinge is a small shelter where an operator controls two diesel engines turning propellers. The propellers are mounted perpendicular to the length of the bridge and allow it to swing parallel to the shore. The process only takes a few minutes to complete. File:De Emmabrug in Willemstad, Curaçao, met zicht op Otrobanda, Bestanddeelnr 252-3106.jpg, The bridge, closed and with car traffic File:De Emmabrug in Willemstad, Curaçao, met zicht op Otrobanda, Bestanddeelnr 252-3109.jpg, The bridge, beginning to open File:Uitzicht over de St. Annabaai in Willemstad. De pontonbrug is open, Bestanddeelnr 252-3104.jpg, The bridge, open The bridge was built in 1888 and was completely renovated in 1939, 1961, 1983-1986, and 2005-2006. The lighting arches were installed in 1955, to celebrate the royal visit of

Queen Juliana Juliana (; Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina; 30 April 1909 – 20 March 2004) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. Juliana was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. S ...

and

Prince Bernhard , house = Lippe , father = Prince Bernhard of Lippe , mother = Armgard von Cramm , birth_date = , birth_name = Count Bernhard of Biesterfeld , birth_place = Jena, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Germany , death_date = ...

. Originally a toll bridge from 1901-1934, individuals without shoes were permitted to cross the bridge without paying the toll. When the bridge swings open, two ferries spring into action to bring pedestrians across the water. The ferries are also free of charge. Motorized traffic ceased in 1974. Locally, the bridge is known as "Swinging Old Lady" as it will swing to the Otrabanda side of Willemstad.

Gallery

File:Historical marker for the construction of Queen Emma Bridge.jpg, Historical marker for the construction of Queen Emma Bridge File:Historical marker for the restoration of Queen Emma Bridge.jpg, Historical marker for the restoration of Queen Emma Bridge File:Queen Emma Bridge signals.jpg, Queen Emma Bridge signals explanation File:Queen Emma Bridge operator's cabin.jpg, Queen Emma Bridge operator's cabin File:View of ferry station and Queen Emma Bridge.jpg, View of ferry station and Queen Emma Bridge with operator's cabin on the left File:View of Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curaçao - February 2020.jpg, View of Otrobanda from Queen Emma Bridge File:Queen Emma Bridge and Handelskade, Willemstad, Curaçao - February 2020 - 01.jpg, View of Punda with Queen Emma Bridge File:Queen Emma Bridge and Handelskade, Willemstad, Curaçao - February 2020 - 02.jpg, View of Handelskade with Queen Emma Bridge

References

External links

* {{Buildings in Curaçao Former toll bridges Pontoon bridges Bridges completed in 1888 Buildings and structures in Willemstad