The Waterloopbos is not just any forest in Flevoland. You will find scale models of 35 famous waterworks, unique nature through which you walk and a pavilion for a cup of coffee.
Old test location
It’s difficult to imagine it these days, but how did they use to calculate complex forces exerted on large construction projects without a computer? One way was to employ models to imitate reality. In the Waterloopbos in the Noordoostpolder, there are the remains of scale models of famous water works. The Hydraulic Laboratory conducted around 200 hydrological tests there in the 1950s to 1990s. The Deltawerken were tested there, as were the ports of Rotterdam, Lagos, IJmuiden, Istanbul and Bangkok.
Why here?
The Voorsterbos wood, in w…
The Waterloopbos is not just any forest in Flevoland. You will find scale models of 35 famous waterworks, unique nature through which you walk and a pavilion for a cup of coffee.
Old test location
It’s difficult to imagine it these days, but how did they use to calculate complex forces exerted on large construction projects without a computer? One way was to employ models to imitate reality. In the Waterloopbos in the Noordoostpolder, there are the remains of scale models of famous water works. The Hydraulic Laboratory conducted around 200 hydrological tests there in the 1950s to 1990s. The Deltawerken were tested there, as were the ports of Rotterdam, Lagos, IJmuiden, Istanbul and Bangkok.
Why here?
The Voorsterbos wood, in which the Waterloopbos is located, is situated on the border between the old and the new land. And as the new land lies many meters lower, there is a natural slope: the water flows automatically from the higher old land to the new land lower down. Using this flowing water along with weirs, dams and wave machines, the influence of certain forces on construction projects could be tested.
Overgrown by nature
No more testing has been done for decades, and the models are in many places overgrown by nature. Old gulleys, weirs and sluices are filled with bushes and plants. Animals like kingfishers and dragonflies are at home in the flowing water in the Waterloopbos. The wood is unique because of this interaction of nature and technology.
National monument
Partly due to the pioneering research done here, the Netherlands acquired its reputation as the top international knowledge centre in the field of water management. To remind us of the unusual history of the wood, ten scale models will be restored in the near future. And in 2016 the Waterloopbos was awarded the status of ‘Rijksmonument’ (national monument).
The Pavilion
The ProefLab// pavilion is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Waterloopbos. It’s a perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee or lunch, and there’s information available about the special nature and cultural history of the wood.
Walking routes
Various walking routes have their starting point at the pavilion. The Harbour route (3 km) goes past water works from around the world. For children there is the Adventure route created by OERRR with natural puzzles for the entire family. The area is easily accessible for disabled people. Two routes are specially designed for disabled people (1.1 and 3.3 km).
