Europe’s longest pedestrian and cyclist bridge opens in Groningen
By Victoria Séveno
It’s been a busy couple of months for Groningen: first, the newly completed Forum Groningen was named the best building in the Netherlands (before being nominated as one of the country’s best libraries), and then the city was named the healthiest city in the Netherlands!
Now, to add to this long and impressive list of achievements, Groningen has become the home of the longest pedestrian and cyclist bridge in Europe!
The Pieter Smitbrug in Groningen
Named after a former local mayor, the Pieter Smitbrug is 3,5 metres wide and 800 metres long, connecting the city of Winschoten and the village of Blauwestad. The bridge crosses over the Winschoterdiep canal, the Oldambtmeer lake, and the A7 motorway.
The bridge was officially opened on February 1, and while the municipality had initially hoped to hold a large event, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic meant that this was sadly not possible. However, a video was made to mark the occasion.
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Victoria grew up in Amsterdam, before moving to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York and completing her NCTJ course at the Press Association in London. She has a love for all things movies, animals, and food. Read more