Tolbrug Nieuwerbrug

Every day, the gate on this bridge is opened and closed several hundred times. For residents of Nieuwerbrug who wish to cross the bridge in their car, the gate is opened for free; motorists from outside the area must first pay two quarters.
Next to the gate, there is a passage for cyclists and pedestrians. Everything that can pass through this "hole of Nieuwerbrug" does not have to pay toll. For boats, the bridge is 'lifted', as it is called. Hence, the toll collector is commonly referred to as the bridge lifter.
The man who can tell everything about the toll bridge is Jacob van de Berg. And if the current toll collector wants a few hours off or is otherwise unavailable, Van de Berg is happy to act as the 'bridge lifter'.
According to old papers, the toll bridge has existed since 1651, making it one of the oldest toll bridges in our country. Before that time, there was already a bridge at this location. The bridge was a gift from Count Floris the Fifth. It is possible that Nieuwerbrug gets its name from the construction of the new bridge in 1651.

Rate Board

Those who take the effort to look at the old rate board by the bridge can read how the rates were established according to the patent of the "Great Lords States of Holland and West Friesland", dated November 13, 1788. The rates listed below are clearly from a later date, as cars and motorcycles with sidecars did not exist at that time.
In addition to the residents, in the past, the lords of the water authority and the dike reeve were also exempt from paying.
The management of the toll bridge is formed by seven bridge mayors. Four of these bridge mayors are elected from the Protestant part of the population, three from the Catholic part. Up until about fifteen years ago, only the bridge mayors were financially responsible for the toll bridge. Since then, a foundation has been established to manage the bridge. The rent paid by the toll collector is used to maintain the bridge. In the past, residents could be obligated to contribute if there was a shortage of funds to maintain the bridge. In the eighteenth century, for example, two cows were sold from a farmer who refused to meet this obligation.

Bridge Mayors

According to Mr. Van de Berg, the management of the bridge used to be the most undemocratic that one can imagine. The gentlemen "bridge mayors" appointed their own successors, and the residents of Nieuwerbrug had no say at all. Every year in February, the annual meeting was held, but no one attended. When this later changed, it was not to the undisputed satisfaction of the gentlemen.
The current substructure of the bridge was founded in 1908. In 1949, the superstructure was replaced by the one that still exists today. This was demolished in 1938 in Goudsluis and, after years of being stored somewhere in an attic, was rebuilt in Nieuwerbrug. In the past, there have been various plans to abolish the toll bridge, but fortunately, that has not happened yet. Hopefully, this old custom will be preserved for a long time to come.

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