Weespertrekvaart

Canals whisper secrets. The Weespertrekvaart whispers stories of trade, transformation, and even a touch of toxicity. The Weespertrekvaart connects the Amstel River in Amsterdam to the Vecht River in Weesp. Imagine Amsterdam in 1639. The city was bustling, and trade was booming. The Weespertrekvaart, freshly dug, became a vital artery. It linked Amsterdam to Weesp, a major producer of brandy and jenever. The canal wasn’t entirely new. Clever Dutch engineers incorporated existing waterways. These included the ringvaart of the Watergraafsmeer polder, the ringvaart of the Bijlmermeer polder, the Gaasp River, and the Smal Weesp River. Originally, the Weespertrekvaart met the Amstel near today’s Amsterdam Amstel station. Later, a new connection was created slightly south, under the Omval peninsula. The old route ran parallel to what is now a viaduct and bike path, still called Weesperzijde, echoing the towpath along the canal’s eastern bank. The Weespertrekvaart served both Amsterdam and the smaller town of Weesp. They shared the costs of maintenance for the canal, towpaths, and barges. Tolls, which were collected until 1929, helped Weesp cover its share. A group called the “Commissioners of the Zandpad” oversaw everything. “Zandpad,” meaning “sand path,” was the original name for the towpath along the Weespertrekvaart. Over time, a northern branch of the canal was closed off and silted up. Factories, including the Blooker cocoa factory and the Masmeijer essence factory, once stood along this stagnant water. They discharged their waste into the canal, turning the water vibrant colors depending on their latest products or experiments. Later, during the Omval area’s redevelopment, this contaminated section had to be excavated and cleaned. The polluted sludge was dumped in the Gaasperplas, initially causing quite a stink for the residents nearby. Today, the Weespertrekvaart flows southeast, past industrial areas and the Betondorp neighborhood, continuing its role as part of the Watergraafsmeer’s ringvaart. New developments, like the Weespertrekvaartbuurt, continue to rise along its banks. The canal then winds northeast near Diemen before turning southeast again towards the Gaasp and Smal Weesp rivers, eventually reaching Weesp. This final stretch is now intersected by the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, a testament to the ever-evolving waterways of the Netherlands. The Weespertrekvaart. A canal whispering stories of trade, transformation, and a reminder of how even the most vibrant waterways need care.