Along the banks of the river Amstel a city developed that depended on water for its survival. At one time water was more important than land. Water was the feature which allowed transportation of goods as well as keeping the enemy away.

To begin with, wooden bridges were built, modelled on the type that were common in the Dutch countryside at that time.  They served the needs of road traffic mainly in areas where the east-west connections were vital.  Their purpose was entirely practical and therefore primary importance was given to function rather than form.  The water was spanned with wooden beams which served as girders.  Wooden planking was placed across the beams to create an acceptable road surface.  Where the length of span required extra support one or more trusses were added, these were made of wooden beams reinforced by corbel pieces.

The urbanization of the city and the increasing prosperity were instrumental in the development of the brick bridge. Brick came to replace wood and the arched bridge with its elegant masonry took over from its wooden predecessor which led to the idea that bridges were conceived of as integrated architectural
designs. The advent of the brick arched bridge coincided with a more conscious approach to urban development. Bridges became an integral part of the ring of canals.

Today, Amsterdam has 1281 bridges. Since the 17th century a maze of canals has divided downtown Amsterdam into 90 islands.  The canals have made Amsterdam famous as the “Venice of the North”. The city has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris.

Bridges that cross Amsterdam’s canals are a wonderful spot for sightseeing: the channel, the tree lined streets, the daily life of locals, the typical houses along the water, the bicycles. On top of it they also provide beautiful scenic background for photos or a useful place to take photographs.

One of the more famous canal sights in Amsterdam is the lineup of seven consecutive bridges that can be seen gracing Reguliersgracht. The old city centre of Amsterdam boasts a bridge on the corner of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht from which you can see no fewer than fifteen bridges. At night the spectacle is extra special, as the arched bridges are illuminated with hundreds of fairy lights.