The waterworks at Termunterzijl
In the past, the sea did not stop at the dike, but flowed much further into the land. Through years of fighting the water, more and more pieces of land were conquered from the sea. To ensure that all inhabitants of the province would keep dry feet, several water works were built. In Termunterzijl, these works have become icons of the village.
Arc of Soul
After the de oude sluis in Termunterzijldiep was destroyed during the Sint-Maartensvloed in 1686, city architect Antoni Verburgh was commissioned by the city of Groningen to build a new lock. Eventually, the Bow of Ziel was constructed around 1725. The lock is characterised by the natural stone parapet showing the coats of arms of the responsible water boards (city of Groningen and Oldambt). After De Nieuwe Sluis was built in the 19th century, the function of the Boog van Ziel became redundant.
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Cremer pumping station
From 1931, the drainage of the Oldambt Water Board was not done using locks. Years earlier, a polder pumping station had been built at Termunterzijl which pumped the water to the sea. The pumping station was built by hydraulic engineer Pieter Geert Cremer and hence received his name. The advantage of the pumping station was that, unlike the locks, the water could be drained at all times, regardless of the water level. In 2000, the new Rozema Pumping Station took over the function of Cremer Pumping Station and has since served as a museum.
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Rozema pumping station
When Cremer pumping station needed replacement due to subsidence, the then Eemszijlvest Water Board decided that a new pumping station had to be built at Termunterzijl. In 2000, Rozema pumping station was commissioned, named after Harry Rozema, a former hydraulic engineer at the water board. The new pumping station is larger and more powerful than the old one, allowing it to drain not only Oldambt but also the Eemskanaal-Dollard region. To secure fish migration from the Wadden Sea, a fish passage has also been included in the building. Over the years, the red houses of Pumping Station Rozema have become one of the icons of Groningen.
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