Warder Pumping Station - Warder

The Warder pumping station is located along the Markermeerdijk between Amsterdam and Hoorn. This dyke has protected the land behind it from the water for centuries, but has been reinforced in recent years to better withstand storms and rising water levels.

During this work, a remarkable number of archaeological finds were made, including traces of the drowned village of Etersheim. Etersheim, a 12th-century settlement, disappeared under water around 1630 due to storm surges and rising sea levels. In 2009, a medieval sarcophagus with early Christian symbols was discovered in the Markermeer, presumably originating from the old Etersheim.

The pumping station itself is relatively young: it was built in 1998, but its designer is unknown. It is powered by an electric motor that drives a vertical screw. This drains excess water from the polder to the Markermeer. The pumping height is 1.8 metres and the pumping station can pump away around 52 cubic metres of water per minute. The pumping station plays an indispensable role in the water management of this low-lying and vulnerable region.