Woudagemaal & Visitor Center

About

Ir. D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station The D.F. Woudagemaal in the town of Lemmer is the world's largest steam pumping station still in working condition. The pumping station was opened in 1920 by Queen Wilhelmina for the purpose of pumping excess water from Friesland into the Zuyder Zee, the present-day IJsselmeer. The imposing brick building is austere and functional, in line with the architectural style of the Amsterdam School. In 1966, the electrically driven J.L. Hoogland pumping station in Stavoren took over the task of the steam pumping station in Lemmer. And yet, even today, the historic D.F. Woudagemaal plays a crucial role in extreme conditions. In cases of extremely high water, the old steam pumping station is deployed to drain excess water into the IJsselmeer as quickly as possible. The D.F. Woudagemaal has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998.