Wolter Bakker

Wolter Bakker initially worked as a supervisor in construction and railroad, later moving into design and architecture. In the 1930s, Bakker worked for Stiching Sportfondsen, which funded the building of many sports facilities in the Netherlands. Bakker in particular served as an architect for many swimming pools, such as in Zwolle (1933), Eindhoven (1935), Zaandam (1938), and Gouda (1939). Bakker also designed homes (notably in his home town Baarn) and led the revision of the Hollandsche Schouwburg (a theater) in Amsterdam.

For the 1936 Olympics, Bakker also submitted five swimming pool designs (for Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Eindhoven, Heerlen and Maastricht). The Sportfondsenbad Apeldoorn was opened in 1935 and closed at the end of 2014. Bakker also designed the Sportfondsenbad De Rietebeek for Arnhem in 1933 in the style of the New Objectivity. After a series of renovations, the building is used today for various sports indoor activities. The Sportfondsenbad Dommelbad in Eindhoven was built in 1935. It was the first pool with artificial waves in Europe, but did not last long. After its closure in the 1980s, an art center moved in, but it is scheduled to be converted into a residential building. The Sportfondsenbad Heerlen was put into operation in 1935. In 1996, the natatorium was demolished to make room for residential development. The Sportfondsenbad Maastricht was closed in 1976. The outdoor pool opened in 1934, the indoor pool one year later.