The route of the Willem van Oranje railway tunnel runs under Molen de Roos and the Bagijnetoren. But how do you make something like that? You can’t just dig a tunnel under these monuments. And they mustn’t collapse due to vibrations or deformations of the subsoil during the construction of the tunnel. That’s why it was decided to make a new foundation for these monuments, so that you can work around and under them.
In 2011, a new concrete foundation was first made for the tower. The foundation plate was suspended in a steel frame and then the Bagijnetoren was lifted half a meter and moved 18 m to the side. This created enough space to build the deep walls for the railway tunnel. The tower was then moved back into place. Now it stands on the roof of the railway tunnel, with its new foundation.
The Bagijnetoren is moved 18 m to the side.
However, there was not enough space to pull the same trick with Molen de Roos and its outbuildings. So the mill had to stay where it was. First, a large part of the mill was dismantled, in particular the stage and the sails. Then 45 steel poles were placed inside and along the mill and outbuildings. Then a concrete foundation slab was also placed under the entire complex here. The deep walls could then be made along that slab without the mill collapsing due to vibrations or deformations. Finally, the mill and outbuildings were jacked up one meter to install the roof of the railway tunnel. Here you can see a nice film about the lifting of the mill.
With its new foundation, Molen de Roos could be lifted half a metre.
After that, the mill could be lowered again and now stands on the roof of the railway tunnel. In 2016, the mill was rebuilt. The masonry was repaired and the mill was painted. Unfortunately, the sails had to be replaced (the two crossed beams of the sails) and that took time. The mill was therefore not fully operational again until May 2023.
Molen de Roos on the Willem van Oranje railway tunnel – you are looking towards Rotterdam.
