Roll 1. 200 ft


1.
Minister Algera, second of right, arrives.


2.
C.u. Minister Algera


3.
Minister Algera pushes button, closing fences moving upwards


4.
Pan of hands moving switches to head Algera, pan to closing bridge.


5.
C.u. Algera looking on.


6.
Dr. Prinsen Queen's Commissioner (left), Min. Algera (middle, center) Mayor van Hall (at right) were the first to cross the bridge. 2 shots


7.
Different shots of the bridges, three, over Merwedecanal (connection with Germany), and over Buiten Y (harbour, pronounce I).



Roll 2 170 ft


8.
Same, different shots.


9.
The bridges are open for cars and bicyclists.


10.
Different shots of the traffic, crossing the bridges.




Initials


T.V. and Polygoon were present

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Saturday arrived in Amsterdam Minister Algera of the department for the maintenance of dikes, roads and bridges, to perform the official opening of the complex of bridges the connects Amsterdam with its northers part, situated at the other side of the wide water het "Y", the harbour of Amsterdam. With a series of traditional actions and manipulations the bridge was opened. After this the minister, accompanied by the Queen Commissioner Dr Prinsen and the Mayor of Amsterdam, Mr van Hall, traditionally was the "first" to cross the bridge.

This new project consists of a technical combination of highways, viaducts and three bridges, and is not only of importance for the people and the industry, that is intense in the northern part of Amsterdam, but will of still greater importance for the development of the polders that are and still have to be won in the former Zuydersea, that is being reclaimed, drained.

The actual connection between the two banks has a total length of 2610 meter (at the moment the longest bridge in the Netherlands), while the costs of the actual bridges has been GBP2.000.000 .-.-. The necessary roads and viaducts, that are not quite completed yet, will have a total cost of GBP 2.400.000.-.-
Two years and 58 days it took to build it, again something for the Dutch engineers and builders to be proud of.

Amsterdam is cut through over the whole length by the Northseacanal, by the natural harbour where the big seacastles arrive, and by the Merwedecanal, Amsterdam's connection with the hinterland Germany. This connection with the North of Amsterdam and with the North of Holland is the first solid fixed connection. Till now all traffic had to make use of ferryboats. The new bridge is something the increasing motorized traffic and the Dutch bicyclists are very glad of.