t Magere Brug, lit up in the evening
t Magere Brug, lit up in the evening
Experience Eastern Canal Ring
Stretching to the south and west of the Amstel river, this area lies wholly beyond the line of the medieval city wall. From the 1660s, the Grachtengordel was extended further east towards the Amstel. One of Amsterdam’s prettiest canals, Reguliersgracht with its seven bridges, was cut at this time. These canals became lined with merchants’ mansions in the Golden Age, such as the Museum Van Loon. Beyond this 17th-century canalside façade is the 19th-century De Pijp, a working-class district built to relieve the overcrowded Jordaan. De Pijp was constructed as quickly and cheaply as possible, resulting in a characteristic street view of four-storey houses, capped with a white roof and lifting bar, which are the width of three windows. Due to the affordability of the area, students, immigrants and artists – including Mondriaan – were attracted to the area. This population brought with them different cultures and exotic foods, lending the area a lively, bohemian vibe.