Grain extractor going through "Koningsbrug"

Watch how the world's last working grain extractor is on its way from Rotterdam to Franeker for restoration

The last working grain suction dredger in the world, the Stadsgraanzuiger 19 from Maritime Museum Haven in Rotterdam, will arrive at the Talsma shipyard in Franeker on Friday for a major restoration. Today the museum piece sails from Harlingen to Franeker.

The Stadsgraanzuiger 19 left the port of Rotterdam on Wednesday and attracted a lot of attention along the way.

Stadsgraanzuiger 19 is part of the maritime heritage of the Netherlands and Flanders. At the beginning of the last century, the so-called elevators ensured that the cargo of large seagoing ships with grain was transferred to smaller cargo ships in two days, something that took a week before that and was still done manually. “Initially, the arrival of the ships led to protests among the dockers, who saw their jobs lost. It soon became apparent that the port of Rotterdam was growing through such innovations and many more people than before found work here, "says museum director Bert Boer.
In its heyday there were 66 grain suction dredgers in the port city. Grain Ejector 19, built in 1927, remained in use until 1975. It was thus one of the last elevators still working, which was scrapped en masse after being scrapped.

World Heritage

The iconic grain suction dredger will be in Franeker for restoration for the next eight months. “We are very happy with this job. Many eyes are on it. The museum wants to make the transfer machine a world heritage site. Then the job has to be done authentically ”, says Jitze Stiensma of Talsma Shipyards.



The steelwork will be preserved and painted at the Talsma shipyard in the coming months. After that, the restoration of the steam installation, the paneling and the electricity awaits in Rotterdam. The job, which will cost 2.4 million euros, must be completed by the end of 2023. Boer: ,, In 2024, our museum will be 150 years old. Then we want to make the elevator accessible to the public. It is a gift for ourselves and our visitors. ""