The bridge, which is owned by Rijkswaterstaat, will now be operated from the control center of the Province of North Holland. On Friday, April 11, 2025, chief engineer-director Gohdar Massom officially transferred the operation of the Kooybrug to deputy Jeroen Olthof.

The Kooybrug is the first bridge that is not owned by the province but is still operated from the provincial control center. “We believe it is important to stimulate transport over water,” said deputy Olthof. “By working from one central point, the operation of bridges and locks can be better coordinated. This ensures better flow on the water and on the road.”

Connection to the Control Center in Heerhugowaard

After the renovation in recent months, the Kooybrug has been connected to the control center of the Province of North Holland. To make the connection possible, the province has made several technical adjustments. New cameras have been installed and calibrated, new cabling has been connected, and an intensive testing phase has taken place. During the official transfer on April 11, Olthof and Massom were able to personally witness how the Kooybrug is operated remotely. With the push of a button, they gave the signal to allow a ship to pass through the central control of the Province of North Holland. 

Unchanged Operation

The users of the bridge notice little difference from the transfer. Previously, the Kooybrug was operated from the support point de Kooy in Den Helder, but now the staff of the Province of North Holland operate the bridge from the provinces control center in Heerhugowaard. The operating times remain unchanged. However, some final work will still take place on the Kooybrug soon. During this work, the bridge will be temporarily closed again. Rijkswaterstaat will provide more information on the website of Rijkswaterstaat Opens an external link .