A hoogholtje (

Dutch Low Saxon Dutch Low Saxon ( or ''Nederlaands Nedersaksies''; ) are Low Saxon dialects from the Low German language that are spoken in the northeastern Netherlands and are mostly, but not exclusively, written with local, unstandardised orthographies base ...

for small high wood; Dutch: ''hooghout''; Frysian: ''heechholt'') is a typical

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

in the Dutch province of

Groningen Groningen ( , ; ; or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen (province), Groningen province in the Netherlands. Dubbed the "capital of the north", Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of ...

. In the West of the Netherlands, the same model bridge is named kwakel, kwakker, or kwakeltje. In

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

, the bridge type is known as a heechhout. This model bridge is high enough for small boats and low barges to pass below, as required since the 14th century. On both ends, there are usually or stairs, sometimes a ramp, to ascend or descend. While most of these bridges are made of wood, some are of concrete or steel. The bridges are narrow, so a person can pass these with a bike, but horses with a carriage could not. Larger boats can not pass under because the structure does not move. Hence, over the years many Hoogholtjes have been replaced by larger, movable bridges. In rare cases, such bridges were built next to the pedestrian bridges and these were preserved. Area residents would be required to maintain the bridges. Between 1900 and 1910 this responsibility transferred to the municipalities in which they were located. One notable example is the registered monument over Baflo-Mensingeweer Canal in Baflo (Groningen). Another is the registered monument over the Frjentsjerter Feart in the eponymous Heechhout neighborhood in

Waadhoeke Waadhoeke is a municipality of Friesland in the northern Netherlands. It was established 1 January 2018 and consists of the former municipalities of Franekeradeel, het Bildt, Menameradiel and parts of Littenseradiel, all four of which were ...

, Friesland.

References

{{reflist, 22em Pedestrian bridges in the Netherlands Wooden bridges in the Netherlands Bridges in Groningen (province)

See also

References