The bridge was opened on 16 June 1936 by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in the presence of 200,000 people.

In 1927 definitive plans had been made by architect G. Schoorl, and construction of the bridge started on 23 October 1931.

[6] In 1944 the Germans planned to blow up the bridge again, but Jan van Hoof, a Rover Scout and member of the Dutch Resistance, managed to prevent this.

To ease congestion a new road bridge, De Oversteek ('The Crossing'), was built 2km downstream, opening on the 24 November 2013.

[9] Once de Oversteek opened, the Waalbrug was closed briefly for renovation work.