Ever wondered about the story behind a seemingly ordinary bridge? This is the Tetje de Jongbrug. It’s more than just a way to cross the Looiersgracht. The Tetje de Jongbrug connects the eastern bank of the Lijnbaansgracht to the other side. It’s bridge number 100 in Amsterdam.
Built between December 1927 and May 1928 this bridge has a rich history. Piet Kramer designed it. He was the bridge architect for the Public Works Department. The Tetje de Jongbrug is a testament to his distinctive Amsterdam School style. Notice the balustrades. They are made of ornamental ironwork. These are clearly Kramer’s touch. They extend to the simple granite columns. This is another characteristic feature of Kramer’s bridges.
The bridge stands on a foundation of pinewood piles. Interestingly a bridge has existed here for centuries. A map by Joan Blaeu from 1649 shows it. By the late 19th century a wooden bridge stood here. It had to be widened in 1885. In 1913 there were plans to fill in the Looiersgracht. The bridge would then have been moved over the Lijnbaansgracht. Thankfully these plans were dropped. The Looiersgracht remained open.
The Tetje de Jongbrug wasn’t always known by this name. In 2020 it was renamed. It was named after Tetje de Jong. She was the first paid female police commissioner in the Netherlands. The bridge is strategically located between two main police stations. One is on the Elandsgracht and the other on the Lijnbaansgracht. It is a fitting tribute to her groundbreaking career.
Near the bridge stood the Klene candy factory. It operated from 1915 to 1986. Across the Lijnbaansgracht stands the Amsterdamsch Tehuis voor Arbeiders. This is a national monument. The Tetje de Jongbrug truly connects past and present. It stands as a symbol of Amsterdam’s enduring history and its progressive spirit. It’s a bridge worth pausing to appreciate. So take a moment soak it all in. Let the history of the Tetje de Jongbrug wash over you.