Erasmus Bridge Erasmusbrug | |
|---|---|
 The Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam | |
| Coordinates | 51°54′33″N 4°29′12″E / 51.90917°N 4.48667°E |
| Carries | 2 tramway tracks, 4 traffic lanes, 2 cycle tracks, 2 sidewalks |
| Crosses | Nieuwe Maas |
| Locale | Rotterdam,  The Netherlands |
| Other name(s) | De Zwaan (The Swan) |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Steel and concrete |
| Total length | 802-metre (2,631 ft) |
| Width | 33.8-metre (111 ft) |
| Height | 139-metre (456 ft) |
| Longest span | 285-metre (935 ft) |
| No. of spans | 4 |
| Clearance below | 12.5-metre (41 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | Ben van Berkel |
| Construction end | 1996 |
| Construction cost | € 165 million (365 million Guilders) |
| Location | |
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The Erasmus Bridge is a bridge in the city of Rotterdam. The bridge was the second bridge built over the Maas river. The bridge is named after Desiderius Erasmus who was born in Rotterdam. The bridge connects the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. The bridge was designed by Ben van Berkel. Queen Beatrix opened the bridge in 1996. The bridge is a 802-metre (2,631-foot) long cable-stayed bridge. It is 139 metres (456 ft) high. Between the pillar and the district "Kop Van Zuid" is a 89-metre (292-foot) long bascule Bridge (it lifts to allow ships to pass under it). The Erasmusbridge has the biggest and heaviest bascule bridge in Europe. The bridge was used in events such as 2010 Tour de France, Rotterdam Marathon and The World Port Days.
