I found these old photos of Amsterdam on a Facebook page entitled Oud Amsterdam. The credits for each of them are also to be found on the respective page, so it is worth taking a look.
It has been a really nice adventure to go through all these amazing photographs of Amsterdam and see older versions of the city and its inhabitants. The streets in the centre seemed so peaceful and walkable (compared with today, when all you think of is how to avoid them because of the crowds) and there is an overall sense of space and enjoyment. Not to mention the elegance of women!
From the selection I made below, I personally loved the photos depicting women taken during “Skirt day” (was it actually a day dedicated to the celebration of the skirt?!), and those of leisure activities. It was also a surprise to see that the Overtoom (nowadays a main street in the Oud-West) used to be a canal.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers in Dam Square during Uitmarkt festival, 1989:
Stationsplein in front of Amsterdam`s Central Station, 1968:
Trompettersteeg – De Wallen (Red Light District), 1968:
Launching of a ship at the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam-Noord, 1974:
At the beach in Amsterdam, on Prins Hendrikkade, 1947! You may see the Scheepsvaartmuseum (Navy Museum) in the top left:
Michael Jackson in the Jordaan, Lauriergracht/Hazenstraat, 1977:
Queuing for the tram to Zandvoort (beach town). Spuistraat, June 4th 1950:
At the terrace on Haarlemmerstraat, 1981:
Wash day in the Jordaan, 1951:
Nice weather in the Jordaan, 1965:
Queensday in the Jordaan, April 30th 1988:
Children in the Jordaan staring at an Easter shop, 1957:
Skirt day! Beethovenstraat, 1967:
Central Station Amsterdam, 1949:
Beautiful Amsterdam street photo! Palmgracht 79, the 60s:
Fishing in the Singel on a Sunday, 1973:
Traffic jam at the Muntplein, 1958:
Christmas trees burning on Van Hallstraat, 1960:
Kalverstraat, busy before Christmas, 1960:
Christmas tree on Dam Square, 1965:
Christmas market at the Bloemenmarkt (Flower market) with Munt tower in the background, 1965:
Central Station, the 2nd platform on the Westside, the 20s:
Oliebollen (doughnuts) at Dam Square, December 28th 1971:
Waiting in the line in front of Tuschinski cinema, 1973:
Hoofdweg as seen from Mercatorplein when looking towards Erasmusgracht, 1927:
Westergasfabriek on Haarlemmerweg, the 50s:
Willy Alberti (1926-1985) chatting on the Damrak:
Forbidden to horse and carriage, 1952. Wooden bridge over the Prinseneilandsgracht, as seen from the Nieuwe Teertuinen:
Amstel towards Muntplein, 1962:
Jan Pieter Heijestraat corner Jacob van Lennepkade, beginning of 1900:
Annual cleaning of the canals, February 23rd 1961:
Unloading supplies from a barge into a warehouse, Prinsengracht:
Picking up domestic trash in Amsterdam, 1950:
Waterlooplein, formerly known as Leprozengracht, 1870:
Throwing snowballs on the Eerste Helmersstraat:
Oudezijds Achterburgwal, 1895:
Ice-breaker on the Amstel, the 30s:
Skating on the frozen canals around the Nieuwmarkt, the 50s:
The Oude Kerk opened its doors in 1306, thus being the 1st church in Amsterdam. It survived the fire of 1421 and the one in 1452, which makes it the oldest building (still standing) in Amsterdam. Photo dating from 1951:
Who knows, maybe one day the photos on Amsterdamming are going to have the same impact in the minds of Amsterdam`s future inhabitants or its lovers. 🙂
Tip: If you live in Amsterdam and are curious to see what your street used to look like in the past, just go to Amsterdam City Archive site and fill in the name of the street in the search field. You will be surprised and it`s addictive! 🙂
35 Comments
Would have loved to see pictures of the Paleis voor Volksvlijt here!
I know what you mean! A wonderful building indeed. I did not add photos with Paleis voor Volksvlijt because there is no present reference to it (does not exist anymore). But maybe I should have added some – most probably in a future \”retro\” post 🙂
Skirt day is nothing official, it\’s just the first day of spring on which you see women out on the street in skirts. It is important enough to have its own wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokjesdag
Thanks for the info!
\”Skirt day\’ is a translation for \”Rokjesdag\’. This word was invented and coined in the 90\’s by the Dutch writer/columnwriter Martin Brill. It refers to a day in spring each year when, as if by magic, all women seem to have suddenly decided that it is warm enough to wear a skirt and show their legs. The word – a rather brilliant observation of a social fenomenon – has since entered the Dutch language. Rokjesdag, to answer your precise question, is not an official holiday.
[…] RT @Lyangelo: #TimeTravel At the beach in Amsterdam on Prins Hendrikkade, 1947! More Old Amsterdam photos: amsterdamming.com/2014/09/01/old… […]
Ja, ik woonde in de Foeliestraat en die kwam uit op het ZANDJE en daar tegenover was de Marine
en om 9 uur smorgens ging daar de fluit, als je die hoorde dan wist je dat je te laat was voor school.
Yes, I did live in the FoelieStreet close to the strand and on the other site was the Navy and when I
could hear the flute nine o\’clock, then I was to late for school.
Thanks for this amazing collection. I kinda got choked up for some reason. \”Forbidden to horse and carriage\”
Besides the Overtoom, the Damrak also used to be a canal. This connected a large dock area, at the current location of Central Station, with a market building on Dam square. Back then Dam square was much livelier, with the busy market and the city hall in what is now the royal palace.
And so was Rozengracht etc. It always makes me feel a bit sad to see a street taking the place of a former canal in Amsterdam but the city had to adapt to meet the needs that came with its growth. 🙂
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Of course one can wear skirts all year long, but I think the reference, as shown in the photos, is the first day one can wear skirts, and in particular a short or lightweight skirt (rokje) without stockings, tights, leggings etc. The bare legs are essential.
These are incredible!!
That`s what I thought, too! 🙂
I don\’t live in Holland and have only had the chance to visit for one day because of relatives who have lived there, but thank you for posting these wonderful pictures older and new. I like that they are not forgotten… ;o)
A great collection!
On a facebook page called Old Amsterdam
Born in Amsterdam years ago and living in Ireland at the moment, these pictures bring back so many memories. Beautiful fotos.
Thank you, Yvonne! Happy to hear this. 🙂
[…] AMSTERDAM VROEGER (3) […]
Geweldig genoten van deze prachtige serie Amsterdams history !!!
KEES LOUWAARD
Heel leuk om te zien vooral als je in Nieuw Zealand woont al sinds 1952. Leuke herinneringen.
Henny en Hans
Prachtige foto\”s van \”MIJN\” Amsterdam
Als Oude Mokumer -born 1940- ben ik blij dat er steeds iemand fotografeerde in al die jaren. ***like
Nic, very nice. Heel leuk.
[…] AMSTERDAM VROEGER (3) […]
Prachtig, goed werk.
Is er zo iets van Eindhoven??
Prachtig, de stad waar ik ben opgegroeid.
Ik had ook liever een stukje van de Lijnbaansgracht / hoek Lindengracht gezien waar ik ben geboren.
Maar Cor, heb je wel genoten? Groet van Jacob.
Wonderschone foto\’s van het Oude Amsterdam
De foto van de Utrechtsestraat vond ik erg leuk temeer omdat ik daar de Ford Angelia zag rijden dat was namelijk mijn 1ste auto
in die tijd!
Wat een mooie schepen bij het Java eiland. Allemaal vervangen voor foeilelijke schepen.
prachtige foto,s van het mij geliefde Amsterdam, terwijl ik er nog maar sinds 1990 ben en werk, vrijwillig.
[…] AMSTERDAM VROEGER (3) […]
[…] AMSTERDAM VROEGER (3) […]
how komt mijn foto hier terecht op het ijs met me dochter op de Amstel?
Maybe you will also be interested in this project http://oldams.nl/ 🙂 We geocoded the photos from Amsterdam City Archive there (~ 25,000 photos)
That\’s one amazing project!
That\’s great thanks
Een jaar wonen in Amsterdam om nooit te vergeten op de Pollux 1961