Cornelis Lely

Cornelis Lely
Statue of Lely, sculpted by Mari Andriessen.
Born	23 September 1854(1854-09-23) Amsterdam
Died	22 January 1929(1929-01-22) (aged 74) The Hague
Alma mater	Delft University of Technology
Occupation	Civil engineer, Governor-General of Suriname
Notable works	Zuiderzee Works

Cornelis Lely (23 September 1854, Amsterdam – 22 January 1929, The Hague) was a Dutch civil engineer and statesman. He first designed and then realised by a law the Zuiderzee Works, a major project that turned the Zuiderzee into a lake, and converting a huge area into dry land.

Career outline

From 1886 to 1891, Lely led the technical research team that explored the possibility of enclosing the Zuiderzee, which was approved by a State Commission. Lely was Minister of Transport and Water three times (1891-1894, 1897-1901, and 1913-1918) and exerted large influence in this function towards the implementation of his own plans. His plans were finally approved and executed after severe floodings along the Zuiderzee in 1916.

Remembrance

The city Lelystad, in the polder Eastern Flevoland and capital of the province of Flevoland, was named after him. The flags of the province and of the city are both adorned with a white fleur-de-lys to note his contribution.

In the city of Amsterdam a major road is named "Cornelis Lelylaan" after him, and Amsterdam Lelylaan railway station, one of the main railway stations, is on this road.

In Suriname, where Lely was Governor-General of Suriname from 1902-1905, the village Kofi Djompo was renamed Lelydorp by Lely; Lely led the construction of a new railway from Paramaribo that ran through Lelydorp. Most of the railway has gone, but Lelydorp survived and is now the capital of Wanica District. It lies on the road from Paramaribo to Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.

A statue of Lely stands on the western point of the Afsluitdijk. It was sculpted by Mari Andriessen and dedicated on 23 September 1954, the 100th anniversary of Lely's birth. A replica of this statue stands in the center of Lelystad, on a 35-metre (115 ft) high tower of basalt blocks, designed by Hans van Houwelingen. In Lelystad's city hall is a statue of Lely made by Piet Esser.

External links

• Info on Lelydorp, Suriname, from travelpost.com

Persondata
Name	Lely, Cornelis
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	23 September 1854
Place of birth	Amsterdam
Date of death	22 January 1929
Place of death	The Hague