The Rokkeveen Water Tower: Preserving the Past, Building the Future

Richard Jetten documents the transformation

Richard has lived in Rokkeveen for 35 years and worked in IT for over thirty years, until a reorganization set him on a different path. He decided to follow his passion and started working as a freelance photographer. The work is broad and varied: Richard photographs for a wide range of clients and organizations, including the Red Cross. There, as he puts it, he feels like “a fly on the wall within the organization.” No fixed workplace or routine assignments, but rather the freedom to be present in different places and capture stories. “I walk around, observe, and decide for myself which moments are worth capturing. That’s the beauty of photography: you’re constantly searching for the right shot.”

He applies the same approach in his own neighborhood. As a local resident, he focuses on the changes taking place in Rokkeveen and the city of Zoetermeer. His photography centers on capturing transitions: from “as is” to “to be.” “I want to show how something changes, not just the end result.”

In addition to paid assignments, Richard also does a lot of volunteer work. Not because he has to, but because he finds it both important and enjoyable. The appreciation he receives from people and organizations motivates him to keep going. “Compliments, hospitality, and the trust people place in you to capture their stories mean a lot.”

The water tower is his most ambitious project. It is the water tower in Rokkeveen: a historic building from 1928 located on Derde Stationsstraat. The tower is 48.65 meters tall and has a water reservoir with a capacity of 500 cubic meters. It was originally built as a buffer for the drinking water supply network of the ten municipalities that surrounded it at the time. The monument is an important historical structure in Zoetermeer and remained in use until the early 1990s. Today, it is primarily a landmark in the Rokkeveen neighborhood.

He has been following developments surrounding the monument since 2014, and since the renovation began in 2025, he has been closely documenting the construction process. He photographs the demolition of old systems, the construction of new floors, and the ever-changing structure of the tower. The renovation began on January 29, 2025. First, the existing floor was removed to access the piping in the basement. After the piping was removed, a completely new reinforced floor was constructed to serve as the foundation for the elevator shaft. From there, the nine new floors were built step by step.

“It’s not your typical construction project,” Richard explains. “You never know exactly what you’re going to encounter. You often have to improvise, and that’s precisely what makes it so interesting from a photographic standpoint.” His work constantly requires him to make choices: where to stand, what to show, and which moment best tells the story.

In addition to documenting the construction process, his main goal is to create a historical record of the neighborhood. “Later on, you’ll only see the final result. But with my photos, I want to show everything that went into getting there.”

For Richard, the key is preserving the building’s character. “The exterior remains authentic; the original 1928 bricks are still visible. Inside, everything has changed, and it’s precisely that contrast I want to highlight.”

Paul van Dorp is building the future

For Paul van Dorp, the water tower is a special family project. As the son of owner Henk Willem van Dorp and husband of the future operator of the bed-and-breakfast, he has been closely involved from the start. In his role as construction manager and marketing director at Van Dorp Installatiebedrijf, he is responsible for the execution and management of the project.

“My father kept the building, and my wife Anique developed the idea for a B&B and meeting rooms,” he says. “That’s how the plan to give the water tower a new lease on life came about.”

According to Paul, this is essential for preserving the monument. “Without a purpose, heritage eventually disappears. By giving it a new purpose, it continues to exist and regains its meaning.”

The water tower is being transformed into a unique venue featuring guest rooms, meeting spaces, and panoramic views of the region. As a result, the building will become a significant landmark not only for Rokkeveen but for the entire surrounding area.

The project is technically complex. “It’s an old historic building that’s being completely rebuilt from the inside out,” Paul explains. “Every floor is different, and every structural element requires custom work. The blueprints serve as a guide, but in practice, you have to constantly make adjustments.” Hoisting the 12-meter-long steel beams into place, in particular, requires precision and experience.