Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works (Dutch: Departement van Publieke Werken) was a Brunanter government department that existed from 1910-1984.

History
The department was founded in 1910 as a successor to the Ministry of Public Works, which was founded in 1854. In the first half of the 19th century, the minister responsible for public works and infrastructure was also the minister for agriculture and commerce.

The department was dissolved in 1984, together with the Department of Internal Affairs. The newly-created Department of Transport and Communications was given the task of overseeing public works and infrastructure from 1984 on.

Tasks
The department was tasked with overseeing large infrastructure works that were not financed by the local and parish governments. This included both transport infrastructure and the building and maintaining of government buildings, including office buildings, prisons and school buildings.

Notable projects undertaken by the DPW include the construction of the A1 motorway, the Alsemberg Viaduct and the Van Draak International Airport. The department also operated several railways across Brunant, which were managed by the government-owned National Railway Company.

The department was not only involved in transport infrastructure, but in the construction of dams and waterways, energy infrastructure and public parks and spaces.