What a small country can be great at: The Netherlands is the absolute world leader when it comes to the design, construction and delivery of gigantic Ferris wheels.
These eye-catchers in the skyline of various world cities are made by Dutch companies. This includes the 60-metre-high Ferris wheel at Asiatique on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
Asian
Asiatique, a prestigious shopping mall and owned by TCC Land Group. On an area of more than 28.000 square meters you can choose from countless restaurants, shops and theaters. In fact, the 300-meter promenade is the longest in Bangkok. Visitors can also marvel at concerts and festivals, but also at the large Ferris wheel, made in Holland.
Dutch Wheels located in Vlodrop has delivered the Ferris wheel of Asiatique. This Ferris wheel from the R60 series has 42 fully enclosed air-conditioned gondolas. The wheel offers the occupants a beautiful view of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River at a height of almost 60 meters.
Dutch Wheels is even world leader when it comes to the construction of standalone Super Ferris Wheels. You can see beautiful pictures of this special piece of technology here: www.dutchwheels.com/photogallery/64-bangkok
The largest ferris wheel in the world
Even the largest Ferris wheel in the world will be built by the Dutch. This will be located in New York on State Island and is a design by the Dutch company Starneth. The Ferris wheel will be 191 meters high and will have 36 cabins, each of which can take 40 passengers. It is expected to attract 4,5 million visitors per year.
Starneth, with its headquarters in Denekamp, Overijssel, specializes in the design and realization of large 'observation structures'. The most famous Ferris wheel that the company built is the London Eye. But with a height of less than 140 meters, that is a junior attraction, compared to the giant Ferris wheel that Starneth is going to build on Staten Island.
The nearly 200 meter high New York Wheel thus also leaves behind other competitors, such as the Singapore flyer and the High Roller in Las Vegas, which is yet to be built. The Ferris wheel is more than twice as high as the Statue of Liberty, which is a little further on. The occupants of the wheel not only get a nice view of the statue, but also of the imposing skyline of Manhattan. The colossus should be ready by the end of 2015. The cost is estimated at $230 million.
Ferris wheel in Bangkok
If you want to admire the Dutch Ferris wheel of Dutch Wheel in Bangkok, visit Asiatique on Charoenkrung Road in the Wat Prayakrai District. It is easy to reach with the BTS. You get off at Saphan Taksin, follow the signs and after a short walk you will arrive at the Sathon pier on the Chao Phraya. A free shuttle boat runs to and from Saphan Taksin several times an hour. Especially in the evenings it is very nice to make this short boat trip, with all the high buildings on the left and right and in the distance the many illuminated bridges. After sailing for about ten minutes, the boat docks at Asiatique.
- Location: Charoenkrung Road, Riverside, Bangkok
- Opening hours: daily from 17.00:24.00 pm to XNUMX:XNUMX am
- Accessibility: BTS Saphan Taksin, then by shuttle boat.
- Website: www.thaiasiatique.com
If I am NOT mistaken … this company used to be called from Vlodrop (near Roermond): VECOMA …
They used to make many types of "fairground machines" ... for example, we sometimes had to go to Manila as an employee at a subcontractor (electro/electronics technology) for repairing malfunctions in 8 lane ...
The problem is here : do you have an apprentice mechanic in between .... a lot of trouble ... because after the repair we had to test the track several times first , and newcomers are sometimes, understandably, not very happy !
I can still remember very well that I had to go into the mast for the first time on the high seas on Hr Ms Karel Doorman (aircraft carrier) (total height 68 meters) to remedy a malfunction in LW radar …
One time you are hanging above the flight deck ... at other times you are hanging above the sea ... getting used to ... hahaha ..
Nice weekend,
Eddy from Falconcity, Holland.