The Ir. D. F. Wouda pumping station is a pumping station near Lemmer, Friesland. It is the largest working steam pumping station in the world. The pumping station can pump 4,000 m³ of water per minute to the IJsselmeer.
Inside the pumping station are four steam engines fired by heavy fuel oil. These can drive eight centrifugal pumps.
The pumping station was designed by D. F. Wouda, then the chief engineer of the Friesland Provincial Water Board. The machinery was designed by J. C. Dijxhoorn of the Machinefabriek Jaffa in Utrecht.
Queen Wilhelmina opened the pumping station in 1920. There were renovations in 1955 and 1967.
Until 1966, the pumping station was used to maintain the storage basin level in Friesland. Average deployment is now once a year. To keep the personnel competent, the pumping station is started up twice a year. See the pumping station site for more information. Due to climate change and subsidence, the pumping station is expected to be used more often during heavy and prolonged rainfall.
At the time of start-up, the steam pumping station is also open to the public.
Living in beautiful Fryslân, the beste plak op ierde, the Frisians say. I like to take pictures on our walks and try to let you enjoy it when these pictures are on your wall. I'm slowly trying to put more pictures here, especially of mills. So if.. Read more…