Bartelsluis
Bartelsluis, once a busy link in shipping, now lies neglected and filled in. From 1638 to 1960, this lock played a crucial role in Wormer, where ship's rusk, or two-bucket, was produced. Eight corn mills ground the flour that was processed by 130 rusk bakers into provisions for fishing and trading ships. Through the lock, these rusks were transported to major cities.
After the decline of the rusk industry, the lock was still frequently used by paper mill Van Gelder & Zn until 1960. Built in 1638 to support the reclamation of the Enge Wormer, the Bartelsluis connected the Westerveer and Enge Wormerringloot to the Zaan. Originally the lock was called the Westersluis, but the reason for the name change is unknown. The Bartelsluis was filled in in the 1960s; nevertheless, the name lives on in the hamlet.
It is hardly...
Bartelsluis, once a busy link in shipping, now lies neglected and filled in. From 1638 to 1960, this lock played a crucial role in Wormer, where ship's rusk, or two-bucket, was produced. Eight corn mills ground the flour that was processed by 130 rusk bakers into provisions for fishing and trading ships. Through the lock, these rusks were transported to major cities.
After the decline of the rusk industry, the lock was still frequently used by paper mill Van Gelder & Zn until 1960. Built in 1638 to support the reclamation of the Enge Wormer, the Bartelsluis connected the Westerveer and Enge Wormerringloot to the Zaan. Originally the lock was called the Westersluis, but the reason for the name change is unknown. The Bartelsluis was filled in in the 1960s; nevertheless, the name lives on in the hamlet.
It can hardly be imagined that the hamlet once bustled with activity on and around the lock in the municipality of Wormer, where a significant part of the waterworks around Wormer and the Zaanse polders converged. It was an important connection to Haarlem, Alkmaar and Amsterdam. The second road was located on the Wormer side, which led to the replacement of the wooden drawbridge with a fixed concrete bridge in the nineteenth century. In the first years of its existence, the lock was heavily used by barge operators who came with shiploads of agricultural products to dock at the loading and unloading platform in Wormer. Hence the old name Westsluis. Why the name also meant Westsluis is unknown.
The last passage activities took place in the 1950s, after which the Bartels lock fell into disuse. The condition of the lock deteriorated and led to considerations by the Wormer Water Board to decommission the lock. In November 1971, the Wormer Water Board decided to decommission the lock permanently. In January 1972, the decision was made to demolish the lock.
Image- Jos Goddard
