What is a wulfmuur?
A wulfmuur is a term from the Dutch province of Groningen for a brick quay or lock wall built from vertical, curved wall panels (wulven) between posts known as kubbestijlen. “Wulf” comes from the Dutch for “to vault”: each panel is built curved, like a barrel vault stood upright.
Build-up and how it works
- Posts: anchored deep in the ground; probably timber at first, from the nineteenth century also cast iron, and steel in modern replacements.
- Vaulted panels: the arch carries the earth pressure from behind into the posts as compression, just as a vault carries its load to its supports. That allows relatively thin brickwork.
- Protection: the curvature may also have limited damage from boats, with the posts acting as a kind of vertical fender. This is not known for certain.
Repair tips
- The posts are structural: without a post, the arch loses its support.
- Maintain the joints so soil is not washed out behind the wall; use a mortar compatible with the historic brickwork.
- Heritage and water authorities should be involved early.
- If the wall bulges, have a specialist engineer assess it.
Related terms
- Sheet piling
- Bank revetment
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