The bridge is adjacent to the monumental prison building on Blokhuisplein, in an area which has a long history and was previously the location of Leeuwarden’s city wall. Designed as a bascule bridge, its arched frame forms an emblematic gateway to the city centre and welcomes the visitor with open arms. The bridge deck soars through the archway from one bank of the canal to the other. The lifting mechanism of the bridge operates through a hydraulic cylinder.