Magere Brug
In Magere Brug, a bascule bridge over the river Amstel once connected the banks at Kerkstraat, between the Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. The earliest bridge on this site—the Kerkstraatbrug—was built in 1691 and had 13 arches. Because it was so narrow, locals called it *magere brug*, literally the “skinny bridge,” a name later reinforced by stories about two sisters who lived on opposite sides of the Amstel and wanted a daily crossing. That first bridge was demolished in 1871 and replaced by a nine-arched wooden bridge. Half a century later, it too needed replacement, and although architect Piet Kramer proposed steel-and-stone options, the city chose a design that matched the earlier appearance, only slightly larger. The present bridge was built in 1934, and its last major renovation came in 1969. Until 1994, the drawbridge was opened by hand; since then it has been operated automatically. …
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