Bridges in Amsterdam cater to everybody. Whether you’re romantically inclined, are interested in architecture or have a keen eye for photography, chances are you’ll find the bridge of your dreams in this city. There’s no less than 1,281 of them, so take your pick.
My favourite Amsterdam bridge is the Melkmeisjesbrug, literally Milkmaids’ Bridge. It connects the Herengracht with the Brouwersgracht and is an airy photogenic bridge. Whatever the time of day or night you show up here, there’s always people taking pictures.
Another one of my favourites is the Blauwbrug (blue bridge) off the Waterlooplein (near the flea market). The name refers to the 16th century wooden blue bridge that has long gone. Protestants were responsible for painting it blue after their 1578 Alteration, a kind of coup which disposed of Catholic city rulers and created an more free-thinking atmosphere for scientists. There’s hardly any blue left on the current bridge which was re-built in 1884 and modeled on the Pont Alexandre III bridge over the Seine in Paris.
Many more modern bridges attract prizes and if you’ve got access to transport, the modern Anaconda pedestrian bridge connecting the Sporenburg and Borneo islands is worth the trip. It is also known as the Pythonbrug and when you see it, you’ll understand why. Snakelike, the red contraption slithers through the sky, making any pedestrian feel a little bit like Tarzan.
Closer to the centre of town is another modern bridge – the Jan Schaeferbrug, which runs straight through an old warehouse. The ingenious thing about this one is that it can be dismantled, so Sail Amsterdam (the world’s biggest sail event hosted in Amsterdam every four years) is not hindered by its existence. It will win an award soon, mark my words.
When you have little time and want to see a great many characteristic historic Amsterdam bridges, why not multi-task with your eyes? It’s actually possible to count 15 bridges from one spot in Amsterdam if you position yourself on the corner of the Reguliersgracht and the Herengracht (in the canal belt). Can’t see them? Check out the numbers on the houses. In case If they’re even, you’re in the wrong spot. Only on the odd numbers side of the bridge will you be able to line them all up, except on foggy days of course.
Amsterdam’s oldest still functioning bridge is the Torensluis, which, incidentally, is also the city’s broadest. Spanning 39 metres, the Torensluis was built in 1648 and used to be part and parcel of a prison. The bridge’s name refers to a tower, but this construct is long gone. On its spot you will find a statue of the writer Multatuli, who’s famous for the Max Havelaar novel which inspired the fair trade organisation of the same name. It’s this bridge which is about the most famous in Amsterdam, together with the Magere Brug (literally skinny bridge), which features in a few films, the most notable one of which is the Bond film Diamonds are Forever. The skinny bridge is a white wooden bridge which since its last upgrade in the 1990s is computerised and can be opened remotely for maritime traffic to find passageway.
