The Damrak in Amsterdam is a street and a water between Dam Square and Central Station.
Originally the Damrak was the part of the river Amstel between the Dam and the IJ. Via a lock at the Dam the river flowed from the Rokin into the Damrak and then flowed into the IJ. This was part of the old port of Amsterdam. Where Central Station is now located, there was a row of bollards in the IJ, to which larger ships could moor. The quay, which only runs on one side of the water, was called "Op 't Water" until the second half of the 19th century. In the 19th century southern parts of the Damrak were filled in. Between 1845 and 1903, where the Beehive now stands, stood the Beurs van Zocher.
The Damrak is part of the route that should give the traveller a first impression of the city after leaving the station. This route, which is called the 'Red Carpet', runs from the Central Station over the Rokin, the Muntplein, the Vijzelstraat/gracht to the Weteringcircuit. At the Damrak there are many tourism-oriented shops, hotels, and (fast food) restaurants. Several alleys connect the Damrak with the parallel busy shopping street the Nieuwendijk. On the cushioned part of the Damrak, at the Beursplein, are the Beurs van Berlage, the Stock Exchange and De Bijenkorf.
I'm Jeroen, and I'll spare you the long introduction. ;) If you're looking for a landscape photo for your wall, you've come to the right place... Read more…