“Does anyone know where Valkenburg gets its name?” I ask. Valkenburg is a neighborhood in Amsterdam-Centrum. It is named after the island Valkenburg or Marken. This island came within Amsterdam’s borders around 1600.
Let’s explore the history and significance of Valkenburg. In 1599 Pieter Bast’s map already showed the island. But, there were hardly any buildings then. Gerrit de Broen’s map from the mid-18th century mentions a Markenstraat. This street ran through the middle of the island.
By the mid-19th century, the name Valkenburgerstraat became popular. It was still noted that it lay on Marken. Various “gangs” or alleyways branched out from the street. The origin of the name Valkenburg isn’t known for sure. It might have been a facade stone from an old house or shipyard.
From the mid-1960s, Valkenburgerstraat began at the extension of Foeliestraat. It ended at Mr. Visserplein.
Sadly, all the original buildings are gone. By the late 19th century, landlords were charging poor residents high rents for slums. The street was in the Jewish neighborhood. Due to poverty and population density, residents were susceptible to epidemics.
To combat diseases, Amsterdam opened a schoolchildren’s bathhouse in 1891. It was located in the Markengrachtschool. In 1893, a major fire at the De Haan bread factory destroyed several houses.
For centuries, the synagogue of the Brotherhood Sjangerij Tsion stood on this street.
Valkenburg had many slums with unhygienic dark alleyways. At house number 195 was the Roode Leeuwengang. Over 300 Jews lived there in inhumane conditions. They were divided into 39 one-room apartments. There was no running water or sewage. Residents had to empty their buckets into a container.
In 1926, large-scale sanitation plans were made. The street was called a disgrace to the city. The municipality wanted to declare 532 homes uninhabitable. Demolition took place in the following years. Empty spaces appeared between the still-inhabited slums. In 1929, the synagogue was closed and demolished. During World War II, many Jewish residents were deported and murdered.
From 1952, the municipality developed plans to sacrifice the street. It would become an access road for the IJtunnel. A continuous route was created. It included Wibautstraat, Weesperstraat, Mr. Visserplein, Valkenburgerstraat, Foeliestraat, and the IJtunnel.
Another sanitation project was carried out. During the tunnel’s construction, the municipality had to start another expropriation procedure. Too many buildings still stood in the way of smooth traffic flow. The Valkenburgerstraat of the future was planned to be about 18 meters wide.
In the mid-1980s, there was a brief consideration to build Valkenburgerstraat underground. This would be between the tunnels at the beginning and end. The proposal failed, although it was discussed into the 1990s.
For years, an open wound remained in the inner city. The only building was the police and fire station. In late 1991, it was decided that the Varastrook would be built on. The Varastrook was the area created by filling in the Markengracht in 1968. Atelier PRO from The Hague designed the new buildings. However, the street wasn’t completed until around 2000.
From 1977 to 1988, the Varastrook served as an alternative for the Waterlooplein flea market. This was because the Stopera was being built there.
A remarkable building block is the ensemble of five houses at Valkenburgerstraat 202-210. Built in 1877, it is surrounded on all sides by urban renewal.
Near the police and fire station is the Sirene sculpture by Nic Jonk. A memorial to De Leeuw by Cephas Stauthamer is on a blind gable on the corner of Anne Frankstraat.
Today, Valkenburg stands as a testament to Amsterdam’s resilience. It reflects its commitment to progress and remembrance.