‘Photo of the week’ – The Digital City of Nieuwegein

During his wanderings through and around Nieuwegein, Nieuwegeiner Arend Bloemink (1946) almost always has his camera with him. His camera is, as it were, an extension of his eyes.

A commonly used extension. He photographs what catches his eye. Sometimes that is something special. Sometimes it’s an everyday thing. Sometimes he photographs an event in Nieuwegein (cycling rounds, openings, B&W activities, youth football, a wedding, etc.). Sometimes his (camera) eye falls on a very ordinary, but beautiful piece of nature. Sometimes he also takes photographs while walking in the wild and at home he sees what has been recorded on his memory card. The result is the ‘Photo of the week’ on The Digital City of Nieuwegein.

But Arend is not the only one who goes out for The Digital City of Nieuwegein. Many readers send us photos or respond to a photo taken by Arend Bloemink. Our editors also come across ‘things’ on Social Media, such as Facebook. This time a ‘beautiful’ photo of Henk Lammen at the Koninginnensluis in Vreeswijk.

Arend Bloemink: ‘Henk Lammen is (rightly…) concerned about the reputation of Vreeswijk, took a photo, posted it on Facebook and wrote his comments. This naturally resulted in several reactions: ‘This is ridiculous. Municipality of Nieuwegein, has a permit been issued for this? You can walk past it, so it is public land and not owned by Rijkswaterstaat.’

Our editors briefly looked into the above, something that Mr. Lammen was of course also able to do. The lock complex is owned by Rijkswaterstaat and draws attention to rotating screws in locks and ignoring red lights. Ships with their propeller turning in a lock and skippers who ignore red lights. It still happens too often, despite the irritation among other skippers and the danger it poses. Rijkswaterstaat therefore draws skippers’ attention to the rules.

‘Tighten the ropes, remove the screws’
Ships are close together in a lock. When a skipper of a ship turns his propeller to hold the vessel in place, he causes annoying water movements at the stern. Smaller ships cannot moor safely due to the current and movement in the water. Therefore the rule applies: ‘Tighten the ropes, take off the screws.’

In short, that’s why it is, and not as stated because of complaining local residents! Which aren’t there by the way. Additional: The Koninginnensluis is a national monument, built between 1882 and 1886 and part of the Merwede Canal.

Do you also see something nice or special in Nieuwegein? Take a photo and send it to me [email protected]. We ensure that everyone can enjoy!