Polder Zuidbroek

Polder Zuidbroek is a polder east of the village of Berkenwoude in the Krimpenerwaard, in the Dutch province of South Holland. In the west, the polder borders the Berkenwoude polder. The polder Schuwagt, Den Hoek, and Zuidbroek initially drained their water into the Lek. In the 14th century, a waterway to the Hollandse IJssel was constructed. This canal ran from the southwest corner of the Polder Zuidbroek, via the peat river the Loet, to the northwest corner of the Schuwagt polder and then along the border of Krimpen aan den IJssel – Ouderkerk aan den IJssel to a pit against the IJsseldijk. However, this drainage was inadequate due to the long route the polder water had to travel, and around 1370 a new drainage was dug, again leading to the Lek. In the 15th century, wind-powered drainage was used to discharge water into the IJssel again. The long waterway from the Loet to the IJssel was arranged as a reservoir. By the end of the 15th century, the polders Den Hoek, Schuwagt, and Zuidbroek drained into the Loet with a total of 5 mills. Since 1868, drainage of the polders has been carried out by the steam pumping station Reinier Blok, located on the IJsseldijk. Since the commissioning of the new pumping station Johan Veurink, Reinier Blok has no longer been in use.

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