Soeteboom pumping station and Hornersluis

Steam pumping station

The Soeteboom pumping station was originally a steam-powered pumping station. It was built in 1873-1874, making it the oldest pumping station in the Zaan region. The reason for its construction was the burning down of one of the three mills in the Westzaan polder. To save on foundation costs, the pumping station was placed on the old Hornersluis. The pumping station is named after the^17th-century regional historian Hendrick Jacobsz. Soeteboom. He was the first to compile a historical description of the Zaan region.

In 1917, the steam engine was replaced by an electric motor and the chimney was removed. The electric motor had a power output of 80 hp and the pumping station's capacity was then 120 cubic metre per minute. Until 1982, the pumping station drained the Westzaan polder. After that, the Overtoom pumping station took over Soeteboom's work. This pumping station was built in 1980-1982 by the Het Lange Rond Water Board, into which the Westzaan polder had been merged in 1977.

Nevertheless, the Soeteboom pumping station is still in service today, although it has been given a different function. The pumping station still operates during heavy rainfall, but its main task today is that of a flushing station. The water quality in the ditches behind it leaves much to be desired. There is little flow in the water, while the pollution load is high. The pumping station is therefore used to flush the ditches regularly.

The pumping station still houses the old drive system with three drive wheels connected by wide drive belts. The combs are made of nylon, but were originally made of vinegar wood. The screw pump is still in use today. A modern electric motor provides the drive. The current capacity of the pumping station is 30 cubic metre per minute.

The area manager visits once a week to clean the duckweed fence and refill the oil. The pumping station is not accessible, but extra windows have been installed at the front to make the drive system more visible. There are three doors in the space between the pumping station. These were probably cupboards and a box bed.

Hornersluis

The Horner or Jaap Kraftensluis dates back to the^17th century and was originally made of wood. In 1703, the lock was completely renovated in brick. A plaque in the lock commemorates the laying of the first stone on June 4 of that year. At the time, the Horner lock was a sea lock in the Noorder IJ and Zeedijk along the IJ. It was in open connection with the Zuiderzee. This changed in 1870-1876 with the construction of the North Sea Canal. At that time, the IJ was largely reclaimed. In October 1872, the polder board decided to remove the lock and use it as the foundation and outer watercourse for the new Soeteboom pumping station. The name Hornersluis refers to the Horn (horn = corner), a piece of land protruding into the water that also gave its name to the nearby Hoge and Lage Horn.

In addition to the memorial stone, horizontal water level marks have been placed on the front of the lock walls. The western lock wall bears the inscription '1732 II' and the eastern lock wall '27'. Both the memorial stone and the water level marks are protected as provincial monuments.

Extra

• YouTube video by HHNK
• Hiking: TheRondje Gouw trail, part of the North Holland Hiking Network, is a fairly long circular walk around the Gouw and its open peat meadow area. You walk along the green Westzijde of Zaandam, over the Noorder IJ and Zeedijk, and through the long and charming village of Westzaan. 
• Hiking: The HollandRoute's Zaanoever Looptakes you along the eastern and western banks of the Zaan River.