Before the Rokin was widened the Langebrug spanned the Amstel River. It was one of Amsterdam’s first bridges perhaps even the very first. People called it the Donderbrug the Thunder Bridge. Why? Because carts rumbling across it made a tremendous noise.
The Langebrug connected Langebrugsteeg to Taksteeg. A bridge existed there as far back as the 14th century. Back then this was Amsterdam’s edge. The name Langebrug long bridge came from the Amstel’s width at this point.
In 1857 a double iron bascule bridge replaced a wooden suspension bridge. All bridges over the Amstel were bascule bridges then. But by 1875 a fixed bridge stood in its place. With its approach bridges it was 53 meters long. Five waterways passed under it.
Road improvements shortened the Langebrug. It still had four waterways. Ultimately the Rokin was filled in. The bridge was demolished. This created parking space. A small building designed by Jan Leupen then an architect with the Public Works Department appeared on the site.
In 1948 a statue of Lady Fortuna by Hildo Krop was placed here. In 1972 it was replaced with an equestrian statue of Queen Wilhelmina made by Theresia van der Pant. Lady Fortuna disappeared. She reappeared in a Brussels antique shop. Now she stands near the Doelensluis and Muntsluis.
The Langebrug seamlessly connected to the Grimnessesluis. It was number 198. That number was later given to a bridge near the Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen. Artists documented the Langebrug. Pierre Tetar van Elven painted it in 1847. Pieter Oosterhuis photographed it around 1900. The Langebrug’s story is one of transformation. It reflects Amsterdam’s evolution. A story of bridges and statues of a city’s growth.