Open Bridge

Amsterdam has more than 1500 bridges and they have to be opened several times a day tho let the boats pass by. This drawbridge is for boats the last connection from the river IJ to the river Amstel. They have to pass some narrow canals to reach here.

I always like to watch what kind of boats pass by. This one didn't look like a yacht.

It was an endless long boat.

It looked liked it never ended,

It reached to the two shores of the river Amstel to get out of the bridge.

And now it had to make a very sharp bend to get in the right direction. It was amazing to see how the skipper was handling the ship.

And a few meters on he had to pass the next drawbridge, the Skinny Bridge.

Sunday Bridges

A pedestrians and cyclists bridge in Amsterdam from the NEMO Science Museum in the background to the Public Library.

This modern two part (61 and 73 meters long) is connecting the Oosterdoks quay and the IJ-tunnel pier.

It can be openend to let ships pass. The bridge is called Mr. J.J. van der Velde bridge. He was a City Counsel Member from 1948-1953 who stimulated the expansion plans for this area of the city.

See for more Sunday Bridges here

Drawbridge

Amsterdam has more than 1500 bridges and many of them are drawbridges to let the big ships with transports over water get through. When you hear a bell ringing and the red lights start to blink, you know the barriers will come down very soon and the traffic has to stop immediately.

It is always funny to see a part of the street coming up and watch the other side of the bridge. When you have a good look you can see some texts of  poems painted on the bridge, to entertain the waiting people.

See for other Sunday Bridges here.

Sunday Bridges

The "Skinny Bridge"  is a bridge over the river Amstel in the city centre of Amsterdam. The central section of    the "Magere Brug" is a bascule bridge made of white-painted wood. The present bridge was built in 1934. The first bridge at this site was built in 1691 and had 13 arches. Because the bridge was very narrow, the locals called it "magere brug", which literally means "skinny bridge". In 1871 the state of the bridge was so bad that is was demolished and replaced by a nine-arched wooden bridge. Fifty years later this bridge also needed to be replaced. The last major renovation was in 1969. Until 1994 the bridge was opened by hand, but now is opened automatically. Since 2003 the bridge is limited to pedestrians and cyclists.

See for more Sunday Bridges here

Sunday Bridges

First I have to thank everybody for the nice comments on my previous post. I am doing well, but am still a bit confused about what all  happened to me in a short time.

This photo I made in Amsterdam a while ago and had to look twice, huh, camels? But those three dromedaries are a piece of art called "Fata Morgana", a suitable name for it I think, and made by "Iris Le Rutte". They are walking along a railroad near the Amstelstation.

The bridge in front is used by cyclists and pedesatrians. See for more Sunday Bridges here.

Sunday Bridges

This bridge crossing the river Amstel in Amsterdam, is named the "New Amstelbridge" but is also known as the "Ceintuurbaanbridge" after the street you can see in the back. The bridge dates from 1903, in 1986 it was renovated but still looks the same as the old one. A tramway is also crossing the bridge, look at the wires above. The middle part can be opened to let  boats pass, the wires then go up too in an ingenious way.

Here a birdsview  from internet of the river Amstel which meanders through Amsterdam and has many bridges to cross.

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Sunday Bridges

A bridge in the Museum Parc in Rotterdam.

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Sunday Bridges

The Skinny bridge in Amsterdam in winter. Ice in the water has gone but the skies are grey these days.

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Sunday Bridges

The Blue Bridge in Amsterdam during the Light Festival in December. It was appropriate lighted in the colour blue. See for more Sunday Bridges here.

Sunday Bridges

A bridge behind the Central Station in Amsterdam. It is a rather new bridge with modern illumination.  In the background you see the Saint Nicolas-church, the biggest catholic church of Amsterdam. In the front the usual mess of parked bicycles. See for other Sunday Bridges here

Sunday Bridges

A pedestrians and cyclists bridge in Amsterdam from the NEMO science museum to the Public Library.

 

This modern two part (61 and 73 meters long) bridge is connecting the Oosterdoks quay and the IJ-tunnel pier. It can be openend to let ships pass. Most bridges in Amsterdam have a name so does this one it is called Mr. J.J. van der Velde bridge. He was a City Counsel Member from 1948-1953 who stimulated the expansion plans for this area of the city.

See for more Sunday Bridges here and for Shadow Shut Sunday 2 here

Sunday Bridges

The pedestrian and cycle bridge nr. 233 to the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam is made of natural stone and is vaulted with a cast iron parapet. The bridge dates from 1877.

 

Here a view to the other side with the old Amsterdam houses.

 

This poor pigeon with one paw was patiently watching my efforts.

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Sunday Bridges

The Millenium bridge in London across the river Thames. I made this photo a while ago in 2010.

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Sunday Bridges

The Stichtse Bridge across the Gooi-Lake are two parallel trafic bridges between the provinces North-Holland and Flevoland and dates from 1983.

 

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Sunday Bridges

Some peoplein Amsterdam  park their bike on a bridge in  their own way.

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Sunday Bridges

A nice bridge in the restyled Sarphati-parc in Amsterdam.

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Sunday Bridges

A bridge in Almere Haven with the reflections of the houses along the canal.

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For more Weekend Reflections here

Sunday Bridges

A cyclists and pedestrians bridge in Amsterdam with at he right hand side the IJ river.

The same bridge from another view.

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Sunday Bridges

A foot and bicycle cable stayed bridge in Almere Haven. See for more Sunday Bridges here.

Sunday Bridges

A new bridge in Amsterdam, in the background you can see a huge cruiseship just leaving Amsterdam harbour. See for more Sunday bridges here