1481) "Wouda-gemaal" (or the D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station, Netherlands: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary Milestone (1920-2020) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site with the issue of Gold, Sterling Silver and Silver plated Copper Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Date of Coins issue: 07.10.2020:
The Royal Dutch Mint is commemorating the Centennial of the Ir. D.F. Wouda-gemaal (Wouda Steam Pumping Station), the largest still-operating steam pumping station in the world.
It was opened on 07.10.1920, by Queen Wilhelmina, and its job was to pump excess water from the Northern Province of Friesland into the Zuiderzee and later into the Ijsselmeer, both bays bordering the North Sea. To this day, the Wouda-gemaal plays a crucial role within the Frisian Water Authority.
Water poses many problems, not just in the Netherlands, but in the whole world. There are three main issues: too much, too little or too dirty.
The Wouda-gemaal is a laudable example of Dutch Water Management and represents a highlight of the work of Dutch engineers and architects in the war for proper utilisation of water resources.
About the Wouda-gemaal:
The Wouda-gemaal in the town of Lemmer has a rich history.
In 1917-18, the steam station was designed by the chief engineer of the Provincial Public Works - Dirk Frederik Wouda.
The majestic building shows beautiful, traditional architecture in the style of Rationalism (an architectural trend from the early 20th Century). It was officially opened by Queen Wilhelmina on 07.10.1920.
Before the station was operational, excess water in the Province of Friesland was pumped into the Zuiderzee and the Wadden Sea with windmills and sluices. This became problematic in the course of the 19th Century, because the peat bogs were sinking. The development of the pumping station in Lemmer was a big step forward in the field of Water Management in Friesland.
From 1966 onwards, Water Administration in Friesland had greatly improved and the electric Hoogland pumping station near Stavoren partly took over from the Woudagemaal.
The pumping station is however, still in use and is owned by the Wetterskip Fryslan (the Dutch water board in the Province of Friesland). In addition, the building and the steam engines are attractions for architectural and steam enthusiasts.
Adds the UNESCO Publication titled "TREASURES OF THE WORLD" in my personal library, which is a guide to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
"For centuries, windmills were used to dicharge excess water in the Netherlands. The first steam pump was built in 1825 and the construction of steam-driven pumping stations reached its peak between 1870 and 1885. Very few new ones were built after 1900.
There were about 700 in operation between 1900 and 1910. Extreme flooding in 1894 led to a decision to reclaim the Lauwerszee and drain the Southwestern part of Friesland Province. The Wouda Pumping Station at Lemmer, opened in 1920, was the key to this operation. It is the largest steam-pumping station ever built and is still in operation. It represents the high point of the contribution made by Netherlands engineers and architects in protecting their people and land against the natural forces of water.
The Dutch landscape has been created by battling against water and much of the country would be flooded if it had not been protected over the centuries by daily control and management of the seas and rivers."
The Commemorative Coins:
The Woudagemaal Coin is one of the 10 recognised heritage sites of the Netherlands on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This is the ninth issue in the series of Dutch World Heritage Sites (2012-2021) following the Schokland 5 Euro Coin (2018) and the Beenster 5 Euro coin (2019).
Three Coins are being struck, identical in design but in three different metals, to mark the occasion.
The Obverse of the Coin features the waving flag of the Province of Friesland, behind then effigy of King Willem-Alexander sporting a beard for the first time on a commemorative coin.
Underneath is a fragment of the canals surrounding the Wouda-gemaal.
The Reverse of the Coin features a drawing of the Wouda-gemaal in straight and simple lines. All depicted from a bird's eye-view, to show the steam pumping station in the typical flat Friesland landscape.
The font used on both sides of the Coin is the same as found on the steam engines inside the Wouda-gemaal.
The specifications of the Gold Coin Variant are:
Denomination: 10.0 Euros; Metal Composition: .900 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 6.72 grams; Diameter/Size: 22.5 mm; Mintage: 1,000 pieces; Mint: Royal Dutch Mint; Year: 2020; Designer: Berend Strik.
The specifications of the Sterling Silver Coin Variant are:
Denomination: 5.0 Euros; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Sterling Silver (Ag); Weight: 15.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 33.0 mm; Mintage: 4,600 pieces; Mint: Royal Dutch Mint; Year: 2020; Designer: Berend Strik.
The specifications of the Silver plated Copper Coin Variant are:
Denomination: 5.0 Euros; Metal Composition: Silver-plated Copper; Weight: 10.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 29.0 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mintage: 60,000 pieces; Mint: Royal Dutch Mint; Year: 2020; Designer: Berend Strik.
For other interesting posts on issues from the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands and PostNL, please visit the following links:
5) The Beemster, Netherlands: 20th Anniversary of Beemster Polder being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: An efficient Land reclamation Project emulated by several countries world-wide: A set of Gold (10 Euro), Sterling Silver, Silver-plated and Uncirculated (All 5 Euro) coins brought out by the Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht in 2019
6) "Wouda-gemaal" (or the D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station, Netherlands: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary Milestone (1920-2020) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site with the issue of Gold, Sterling Silver and Silver plated Copper Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Date of Coins issue: 07.10.2020
10) "De Haar Castle", Utrecht, Netherlands: The first Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles" Coin Series: A silver ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Date/Year of Delivery: 04/2020
11) First Atlases, Netherlands: Commemorating 450 Years of the first Atlas (1570-2020) & others: A Stamp Sheet of six stamps depicting the Atlases which were compiled in the Netherlands in the 16th & 17th Centuries AD: Stamp Set issued by POstNL: Date of Stamp Set issue: 23.03.2020
12) "Ancient Postal Routes - The Postal Route from Christiania to Bergen", Norway: A Europa Stamp of 20g issued by Posten Norge (or Norwegian Post)depicting the difficult mountain route/stretch at Vindhellvegen & Kongevegen: Date of Stamp issue: 17.04.2020
13) 75th Anniversary of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), The Netherlands: A Coin-card set of three denominations of 0.50 Euros, 0.20 Euros and 0.05 Euros minted by the Royal Dutch Mint to celebrate the milestone: Year of Coin-card issue: 2020
13) 75th Anniversary of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), The Netherlands: A Coin-card set of three denominations of 0.50 Euros, 0.20 Euros and 0.05 Euros minted by the Royal Dutch Mint to celebrate the milestone: Year of Coin-card issue: 2020
Dutch Castles Coin Series:
2) Heeswijk Castle, North Brabant, The Netherlands: The Second Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles Coin Series": A Silver Ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Year of issue: 2020
3) Hoensbroek Castle, The Netherlands: The Third Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles Coin Series": A Silver Ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Year of issue: 2020
3) Hoensbroek Castle, The Netherlands: The Third Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles Coin Series": A Silver Ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Year of issue: 2020
Posts from Belgium & Luxembourg:
5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020
6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020
7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020
Some other interesting Posts from Finland & Nordic Countries:
15) "Franking Labels" from Greenland: Franking Labels issued by POST Greenland Filatelia since 2009 onwards: A brief analysis
16) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020
Links to other Posts on Aland issues:
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