Regentessebrug

The Regentessebrug (1899) over the Wijnhaven quay was designed by the city architect D.B. Logemann.

This bridge is a national monument and is the only physical reminder of the greatness of Wijnhaven before the war. The bridge has beautiful decorations and draws inspiration from the monumental bridges in 19th-century Paris, like the Alexandre-III Bridge, which were very popular at that time.

At that time, Amsterdam already had two monumental bridges inspired by the French style, the Blauwbrug and the Hogesluis. But Rotterdam didn’t have one yet, and they wanted to change that.

Regentessebrug Rotterdam
Regentessebrug Rotterdam

Architecture Regentessebrug

The bridge has three natural stone arches and is made of a combination of natural stone heads and a cast-iron structure that supports the concrete bridge deck. The railings, made of natural stone, have a triangular shape.

On the bridge pillars, there are four lanterns in the middle and four carved lions on the corners. The pillars themselves are decorated like ship fronts with dolphins on top.

Lamp post at the bridge
One of the lanterns adorning the Regentessebrug

In 1888, the first fixed bridge was built to connect the submerged Glashaven with Posthoornsteeg.

The current Regentessebrug was named after Queen Regent Emma in 1899 when she and her daughter Wilhelmina officially opened the bridge.

The bridge is also known as Vierleeuwenbrug because of the four lions guarding the bridge corners.

Discover other bridges in Rotterdam

De Hef | Erasmusbrug | Koninginnebrug | Luchtsingel | Maastunnel | Rijnhavenbrug | Van Brienenoord | Willemsbrug