Poldervaart Lock

The Poldervaart was constructed in 1280 as the 'Nieuwe Vaart' and was used for the drainage of the eastern districts of the Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland: Vrijenban, Hof van Delft, Berkel, Kethel, and Pijnacker. Near the Schie, the restored sluices still remain as a relic. The Poldervaart is currently closed off from the Delftsche Schie by a dam. Source: recreation middle Delfland.

The sluice was built in 1928 to protect the area adjacent to the Poldervaart (such as Kethel) from flooding like that of the dike breach in 1903. The sluice functioned until 1970. Afterwards, the doors were bolted shut because the Poldervaart was no longer used for drainage. Since 1970, almost nothing has been done to this distinctive sluice. This would mean that ultimately a ruin remains, and according to the Poldervaart association, this should be prevented.

The sluice is a floodgate made of reinforced concrete with three passages. There are more like it in the Netherlands, often made of brickwork but sometimes also made of concrete. As a concrete structure, the sluice is characteristic of the period before 1940. Noteworthy about this sluice is the use of Swedish red granite as cladding for the edges of the sluice body. This makes it unique and gives it architectural-historical value. The sluice is a characteristic part of the ancient Poldervaart and tells something about the history of this water. Therefore, the sluice also has significant cultural-historical value. (Source: www.keersluispoldervaart.nl)

In the middle passage, a steel lift door was installed in 1961 for safety reasons for the point doors, moving in a steel lift portal. The Poldervaart was dammed off from the Delftsche Schie in 1970. Therefore, the sluice no longer has a retaining function. The lift portal was subsequently demolished. In 2014, the sluice was restored. During this restoration, the steel lift door was removed but was placed near the sluice as a support for information panels. Source: water authority

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