Blauwburgwal is Amsterdam shortest canal, no more than 100 meters in length and connects the two innermost canals, Singel and Herengracht. It's no more than a 15-minute walk from central station, so perfect if you want to see some sites whilst waiting for a connection.

How old are the buildings on Blauwburgwal?

Some of the canal houses date back to the 17th century.

One section of houses on the corner of Herengracht/Blauwburgwal is more modern. It was rebuilt after being damaged in World War II.

World War II Bombing in Blauwburgwal

On 11 May 1940, The building was struck by a bomb, causing severe structural damage. The bomb came from a German aircraft hit by flak over Sloterdijk. It continued its flight, but The pilot decided to release two bombs in case the plane crashed. One of The bombs bounced over the bridge into the water of the Blauwburgwal, the other hit the houses on the corner. Fourteen buildings were destroyed, and forty-four people lost their lives.

World War II Bombing of Amsterdam -  Beeldbank Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

Blauwburgwal corner building as is it now...

Golden Flying Horse

Many of Amsterdam's historic canal houses are furnished with decorative stone plaques (Dutch; Gevelstenen). This house on has a golden flying horse.

Ornamental Glass

The corner house with a decorative glass window.

Canal House Gable

The corner house on Blauwburgwal with a bell-gable.

Canal Bridge

The small bridge over Blauwburgwal joining Singel canal.

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Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam

The beautiful Portuguese Synagogue is one of the most important legacies of the vibrant Jewish community in Amsterdam. Until the Holocaust, Jews made up more than 10% of the population of Amsterdam. During the 16th and 17th century, many Jews that faced persecution in Spain and Portugal fled to Amsterdam. The religious tolerance they enjoyed in the Dutch Republic was unheard of in the rest of Europe. The Amsterdam Sephardic community became one of the largest and richest Jewish communities in Europe during the Dutch Golden Age, and their very large synagogue reflected this.

The Entrance

There is an inscription in Hebrew above the entrance that refers to Psalm 5:8 “In the abundance of Thy lovingkindness will I come into Thy house”. There is also reference to the date 1672 which is an interesting curiosity. This was the year in which the synagogue was supposed to be ready. However, due to the war in 1672 which was “The Year of Disaster” it was not possible to finish the construction.

History of the Portuguese Synagogue

The Sephardic Jews who settled in Amsterdam in the late 16th century commissioned Elias Baumans and Daniel Stalpaert to design the synagogue. It was to be the biggest in the world and was inspired by the architecture of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. Like many of the buildings in Amsterdam, its foundations consist of wooden piles driven into the ground. They started building in 1671 and in 1675 the Portuguese Synagogue opened. It cost the community around 186,000 florins. Minor restorations have been made, but the synagogue still looks pretty much the same as 340 years ago.

Architecture of the Portuguese Synagogue

The architecture shows the self-confidence and wealth of the Jewish community in Amsterdam. It was the largest synagogue of its time and one of the biggest buildings in Amsterdam. A model of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem provided inspiration for the architects. Around the main building, there are various offices and archives, the rabbinate, a mortuary and the Ets Haim (Tree of Life) library that holds valuable collections of Sephardic manuscripts.

Interior of the Portuguese Synagogue

The Interior of the Portuguese Synagogue is the longitudinal Iberian-Sephardic type. The Holy Ark which is situated in the South East corner faces Jerusalem. The Tebah stands on the other side of the room opposite the ark. The service is led from the Tebah.

Interior of the Portuguese Synagogue

The interior of the synagogue is lit by 1000 candles held in two enormous brass chandeliers. Additional light streams through the 72 windows. The upper section of the synagogue is the women’s gallery which is supported by twelve stone columns. These represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

Opening hours for visitors

It is open to the public and guided tours can be arranged in advance. Note that the synagogue is closed on Saturdays.
April 1 – October 31: Sunday till Friday 10.00 – 16.00 hrs.
November 1 – March 31: Sunday until Thursday 10.00 – 16.00. Friday 10.00 – 14.00.
For more information visit the Jewish Cultural Quarter website.

The Winter Synagogue

The area surrounding the main building also includes a winter synagogue with central heating and electric lighting. This is the site of the congregation’s regular weekly services and was created during the 1955–1959 renovation in the former Etz Hayim seminary auditorium.

Location

The Portuguese Synagogue is located in the centre of Amsterdam near Waterlooplein.

Address: Mr. Visserplein 3, 1011 RD Amsterdam

Photo Tips

– Cameras are permitted and photos are possible but flash photography is not allowed
– Larger camera bags are not permitted in the Jewish Cultural Museum

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The top of a bell gable has the shape of a church bell and is also referred to as a clock-gable. They are made of brick and have sandstone scroll-like decorations on the edges.

The house above at Keizersgracht 50 which dates back to 1622 originally had a step-gable. This was replaced in 1783 with a bell-gable shown when the house was renovated.

The decorative sandstone is often compared with think dabs of cream or the white wigs which were fashionable in this era.

Bell gables are regarded as an evolution of the neck-gable and have a similar silhouette. The main difference is that the brickwork extends into the bell shape

Prior to 1700, the bell gables were lower and simpler and also often have a pediment with fruit and flower garlands. In later years they were characterised by exuberant attachments and asymmetric crests in the style of Louis XV.

At Keizergracht 353-357 and Reguliersgracht 17-21 are groups of three canal houses built at the start of the 18th century, all with bell gables. Another earlier example can be seen at Prinsengracht 716 built in 1671.

Double Bell Gables

Brouwersgracht 143-145

Blauwbergwal 22

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The gable is a section of wall between the edges of a dual-pitched roof. It is visible on the tall, elegant canal houses in Amsterdam, providing both an aesthetic and functional purpose through their winches. These winches are still used for lifting heavy or bulky items to the top floors.

Over four centuries, the design of the gable facades evolved according to the fashion of the times. Initially, simple triangular gables were used and an example is seen on the 15th-century wooden house in Begijnhof. Subsequently, from 1600 onwards, the step and spout gables were introduced. These had a more solid construction using brick and sandstone. The earliest examples were simple and functional but gradually became more elaborate. Next came the neck gable, with the baroque style of Louis XIV and also the bell-gable with an asymmetrical Louis XV style.

The best way to quickly sample the various canal house gable styles in Amsterdam is to take a walk along Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht. Good examples can also be found in various locations throughout the centre, even on houses which are not directly next to the canals. It should also be noted that these gables are not unique to Amsterdam or even Holland. They appear in Belgium’s cities such as

It should be noted that these types of gable are not unique to Amsterdam, or even Holland. They also can be admired in Belgian cities such as Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp.

Bell Gables 1660 – 1790

The top of a bell gable has the shape of a church bell and is also referred to as a clock-gable. They are made of brick and have sandstone scroll-like decorations on the edges.

The house above at Keizergracht 50 which dates back to 1622 originally had a step-gable. This was later replaced in 1783 with a bell-gable shown when the house underwent renovation.

The decorative sandstone is often compared with think dabs of cream or the white wigs which were fashionable in this era.

Bell gables are regarded as an evolution of the neck-gable and have a similar silhouette. The main difference is that the brickwork extends into the bell shape

Prior to 1700, the bell gables were lower and simpler and also often have a pediment with fruit and flower garlands. In later years they were characterised by exuberant attachments and asymmetric crests in the style of Louis XV.

At Keizergracht 353-357 and Reguliersgracht 17-21 are groups of three canal houses built at the start of the 18th century, all with bell gables. Another earlier example can be seen at Prinsengracht 716 built in 1671.

Neck-gables (Halsgevels) 1638-1780

The neck gable has a facade with both sides forming an angle of 90 degrees. The external corners of neck gables are filled with decorative sandstone jaw pieces.

The facade often features a shell motif and a decorative cartouche. Most neck gable facades are constructed entirely from brick although some were made entirely from sandstone such as the Bible Museum at Herengracht 366-368.

Architect Philip Vingboons introduced the neck gable to Amsterdam. The first real example was constructed in 1636, at Herengracht 168 right next to Bartolotti House. There are two variants of neck gables; elevated or non-elevated. Elevated or raised neck gables feature an extra step incorporating an element of the step gable architecture. Non-elevated neck gables tended to have taller necks and were more richly ornamented. They were most common in the first half of the 18th century.

The spout gable looks like an inverted funnel. The rectangular block on top resembles the funnel’s spout, hence the name spout gable.

This gable design was used by merchants to signify warehousing and trade, rather than a residential property. On some houses in Amsterdam, you will see two gables; a spout gable placed at the rear of the house and a more ornate gable at the front.

Schottenburch at Kromboomssloot 18-20 is the oldest known warehouse in Amsterdam. It has a gable stone dated 1636 but the building can be seen on city maps dating back to 1595. A variety of buildings constructed with spout gables in the 17th and 18th century can be observed along Brouwersgracht (184 -194) and Leliegracht (35). A long line of these buildings can also be seen at Entrepotdok (1708) which is a canal and warehouse complex located near Artis Zoo.

Spout gables increased in number following the decline of Dutch international trade. Many owners replaced their elaborately decorated gables with the plainer more functional gables. An example of this is Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder, located at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40.

Step Gable (Trapgevel) 1600-1665

In the 17th century, the step gable was very common in the Old Centre of Amsterdam. This style is characterised by a series of steps on each side rising to meet in the centre. These steps were often topped with white sandstone blocks.

Some examples of the step gable can be elaborately ornamented. The Bartolotti House at Herengracht 170 was built in 1617 for Willem van den Heuvel who was one of the richest merchants in Amsterdam.

Approximately one hundred examples of step-gable houses can be found in Amsterdam today. A classic example is Cafe Papeneiland which can be found on the corner of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht. In the 18th century, many houses were adapted to a more fashionable architectural style. This led to the replacement of the gable facade.

The so-called “House on three canals” (Huis aan de Drie Grachten) has step gables. This house is located on Grimburgwal south, Oudezijds Voorburgwal on the west en Oudezijds Achterburgwal on the east.

Café Kobalt is located in a canal house on the corner of Singel and Droogbak near Central Station. The café dating back to 1603 was originally used as a warehouse and has a timber frame construction together with a step gable.

Herengracht 81 is the oldest residential house in Amsterdam. It was built in 1590 as a traditional merchant’s house featuring a beautiful step gable.

Pointed Gables

A couple of examples of the first pointed gables can still be found in Amsterdam dating back to around 1420. One of these is the wooden house at Begijnhof 34 opposite the church and the other in Zeedijk.

In the 15th century, a huge blaze destroyed much of the city centre. The vulnerability of these wooden buildings to fire led to laws preventing further construction. Brick and sandstone then became the standard material in the construction of walls and tiles were used in place of thatched roofs.

It is possible to spot some wooden gables. At Westerstraat 126 the house has a simple wooden triangular gable. The three adjacent houses are good examples of bell gable, neck gable & spout gable.

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Blauwbrug is one of the most richly decorated bridges in Amsterdam with ornate lanterns and crowns. Underneath, it has three openings for to cater for the steady flow of canal boats passing along the Amstel.

The current bridge which is constructed of stone was built in 1883 for the World Colonial Exhibition which attracted thousands of visitors to Amsterdam. The design by architects W.H. Springer and B. de Greef drew inspiration from the Pont Alexander III in Paris. The following World Colonial Exhibition six years later in Paris delivered the iconic Eiffel Tower as it’s main attraction.

location

Blauwbrug is a twenty-minute brisk walk from Amsterdam Central Station. Head towards De Waag, Café de Sluyswacht, Rembrandthuis, Waterlooplein and finally Opera.

Metro: Take Metro 54 from Central Station to Waterlooplein which takes about 3 mins and continue on foot to Blauwbrug.

photo tips

Use the natural lines of the bridge walls to lead the eye into the photo.

Shoot at sunset in order to create a silhouette from the pillars.

Look for detail such as the crown and lamps on the decorative pillars.

Magere Brug framed by the pillars of Blauwbrug

sights nearby

Blauwbrug is just a short walk from Rembrandtplein and Waterlooplein with its famous open-air market. Look further along the river Amstel and you will see Magere Brug. This is also just a couple of minutes on foot.

Rembrandtplein

Magere Brug – Amstel

Reguliersgracht

Rembrandthuis

Waterlooplein

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