Spinoza statue, Zwanenburgwal, Amsterdam

Spinoza

Situated on the Zwanen­burgwal, near the Stopera (the combined Amsterdam City Hall and Opera House) is a statue of Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677), a Dutch…
View of the gardens of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Gardens of the Rijksmuseum

The gardens of the Rijks­museum (Rijks­museum­tuinen) surround the museum building. Architect Pierre Cuypers (who also designed Amsterdam's…
Blog Locatelli in Amsterdam

Locatelli in Amsterdam

Italian composer and violin virtuoso Pietro Antonio Locatelli came to Amsterdam in 1729 and lived and worked there until his death in 1764, advertising…
Vijzelgracht 20, Amsterdam

Vijzelgracht 20

The weaver houses on Vijzel­gracht 20-26 were built between 1670 and 1671. Designed by architect Philips Ving­boons (1607–1678) they contain…
Magna Plaza, Amsterdam

Magna Plaza

The Magna Plaza shopping center is located on the Nieuwe­zijds Voor­burg­wal across from the Konink­lijk Paleis (Royal Palace) and the…
Beulingsloot, Amsterdam

Beulingsloot

This short canal is a remnant of and old drainage ditch that previously ran more to the West. Now it runs from the Singel to the Heren­gracht,…
Amsterdam, the imperial crown on the Westertoren

The Crowned City

Did Amsterdam really receive the right to carry the Emperor's crown above the city emblem as a gift of gratitude, or — much more prosaic — did they…
Former wooden police station, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, Amsterdam

Wooden Police Stations

Across from the Betty Asfalt Complex and the Postzegel­markt, on a small square at Nieuwe­zijds Voor­burg­wal 287, almost at the height…
Collapsed quay, Grimburgwal, Amsterdam, 2020

The Decay of Amsterdam’s Quays

Amsterdam has around 900 km (560 mi) quays and water borders, of which around 300 km (186 mi) are owned by third parties, who are responsible…
Sint Luciënsteeg, Amsterdam

Sint Luciënsteeg

The Sint Luciën­steeg (Saint Lucia Alley) is a narrow street which runs between the Kalver­straat and the Nieuwe­zijds Voor­burg­wal.…
Peat soil

Building on a Wet Sponge

Amsterdam was built on a swampy area of the Amstel estuary, regularly flooded, and consisting mostly of peat soil and bogs. This type of soil (thick compacted…
Hemelrijk neighbourhood, Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s Kingdom of Heaven

The Hemelrijk (Kingdom of Heaven) is a smaller neighbour­hood, between Singel and Hekel­veld, named after an over­populated slum area there,…