documentary 'the best water in the world' now showing

The documentary 'The best water in the world', which premiered on Friday in Filmhuis Nieuw-Vennep, can now be seen on YouTube. The shortened version of the documentary can be seen in our exhibition until 27 April 2025 Source Building – The Rise and Fall of a Haarlems health resort. This small but special exhibition tells the story of the Brongebouw and the Hollandia Bron. At the end of the nineteenth century, Haarlem grand ambitions to establish a health resort with the healing spring water from Vijfhuizen, discovered in 1854. This iron-rich water was transported to the Haarlem transported, where in 1895 a luxurious Brongebouw was opened with a drinking hall and bathhouse. Despite high expectations, the project was thwarted by various setbacks, causing the Brongebouw to eventually fall into disrepair and be demolished.  

Haarlem as a health resort
The source, later called the Hollandia Source, was discovered in 1854 at a farm in Vijfhuizen, where the water flowed unused into a ditch for years. Interest in the water only arose when a pharmacist discovered its medicinal properties, including the ability to alleviate conditions such as anemia and obesity. Because Vijfhuizen itself had no plans for the source, the iron-rich water was piped into the city Haarlem transported, who wanted to realize an ambitious health resort.

The Source Building
In 1895, the Brongebouw with a drinking hall was opened in the Frederikspark. The drinking hall was a popular place where visitors could drink the healing water. In the Badhuisstraat, a bathhouse opened where visitors could go for various treatments, such as mud and salt baths, and even electrical treatments. Yet the ambition of Haarlem as a spa, soon became too big for reality. An irregular supply of spring water through the rusty pipeline and the lack of overnight accommodation contributed to the failure of the project. The Brongebouw was then used as a cultural centre for concerts and exhibitions, but eventually fell into disrepair. In 1932, the Brongebouw was demolished.

Documentary 'The best water in the world'
This exhibition was developed in collaboration with Stichting Meerdoc and is part of the project 'The best water in the world'. Presenter Eric Westerop sets out with historian and heritage advisor Ruben Daniëls to get a clear picture of this relatively unknown history. Together they make new discoveries and map out the 'source story'.

The entire documentary can be seen here. More information about this project can be found on the website of the Meerdoc Foundation: www.meerdoc.nl/project-bron/.