3-028-822 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The King of Holland laying the foundation-stone of the Amsterdam ship-canal locks, 1870. 'It will be remembered that the Number of this Journal for Nov. 20 contained a description of the great canal for seagoing ships which is still under construction between the city of Amsterdam and the German Ocean [North Sea]...The memorial-stone, of the dam and lock at Schellingwoude'...towards the Zuider Zee, was publicly laid by the King of Holland, on the 29th April...His Majesty William III. was received by Mr. Jitta, the president, and the directors of the Amsterdam Canal Company...with Messrs. Hawkshaw, Dirks, Waldorp, and Van Doom, the engineers...Having been conducted to a handsomely-decorated pavilion,...the King took a pen formed of an eagle's quill, and signed a document recording the important transaction of that day...the document was inclosed in a metallic box, to be deposited in a hollow of the foundation-stone. A silver trowel and an ivory hammer were presented to the King, who spread the mortar before the stone was laid, and afterwards tapped the stone thrice with due solemnity, an act responded to by the hearty cheering of the assembled company, and a joyous burst of music'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.