From water tower to hotelroom, Duin en Bosch, Bakkum 2021

The original water tower was built in 1908 as part of the Duin en Bosch psychiatric hospital complex built in 1904-1909.

The  purpose of the 33.50-metre-high water tower was to keep the hospital’s own water supply system pressurized.

The brick substructure was built as a chimney shaft topped by a steel water reservoir.

The casing of the high reservoir has a gently sloping conical roof with an overhang and had a lantern. There were a few small windows in the casing.

The interior was still partly original and has a beautiful riveted iron high reservoir with a diameter of 5 meters and a capacity of 50 cubic meters.

The design was by J. Scholtens, chief engineer of the Provincial Public Works Department and the design and construction of the reservoir were done by the firm F.A. Neuman from Eschweiler.

Later in 1936 an extra casing around the reservoir was added and in 1965 a bypass was added. Until the late 1970s, the tower served as the Provincial Hospital’s own water supply.

The national monument was in a poor condition. When the water tower was being restored the challenge was to preserve as many of the original elements as possible.

The water tower is now a fantastic one-room hotel accommodation with stunning views from the high in the sky bed.

Parties involved:

Stichting Boei, owner of the water tower

Kennemerduincampings, tenant and responsible for the hotel accommodation

Polderman, Bureau for Monument and Restoration Advice

Min2 bouw-kunst, Bergen, Design

Pronk Bouw, Warmenhuizen, contractor

Oldenhave, Vorden, blacksmith

De Oude Keuken, Bakkum, restaurant