The Damrak in Amsterdam - Oude Kerk Amsterdam by Nicky Kapel

The Damrak in Amsterdam is a street and water between Dam Square and Central Station.

History
Originally, the Damrak was the name of the straight stretch (A 'rak' is a straight stretch of canal) of the Amstel River between the Plaetse (the name of today's Dam until the early 17th century) and the IJ. Via a lock at the Plaetse, the water flowed from the Rokin into the Damrak and then emptied into the IJ. Here was part of Amsterdam's old harbour. Where Central Station is now, there was a row of mooring posts in the IJ, where larger ships could moor. The quay, which only runs on one side of the water, was called "Op 't Water" until the demolition of southern parts of the Damrak, between Dam and Oudebrugsteeg, in 1845 and in 1883. Between 1845 and 1903, Zocher's Stock Exchange stood where the Bijenkorf now stands.

The houses on Warmoesstraat between Nieuwebrugsteeg and Oudebrugsteeg still stand with their rear façades in the undammed part of Damrak. Near Guldehandsteeg, which connects the water to Warmoesstraat, this row of gables still contains the only remaining waterfront pavement, where ships were unloaded. In this remaining part of the water (the "Wet Damrak") tour boats moor.

Two bridges over the Damrak, the Papenbrug (near the Oude Kerk) and the Oude Brug, disappeared when they were filled in (the Papenbrugsteeg and Oudebrugsteeg still remind us of them). The Nieuwe Brug (bridge no. 303) lies where the Prins Hendrikkade crosses the Damrak. A lock, the Nieuwe Brugsluis, is also located here. (Source: Wikipedia)