Oost-Indische Huisbrug

Gazing at the Oost-Indische Huisbrug, can you hear the whispers of history? This seemingly ordinary bridge, bridge number 223, holds a captivating tale. The Oost-Indische Huisbrug gracefully arches over the Kloveniersburgwal. It links the street called Rusland to the Raamgracht’s southern bank. The Oost-Indische Huisbrug takes its name from the grand Oost-Indisch Huis. This “East India House” stood proudly nearby at the corner of Kloveniersburgwal and Oude Hoogstraat. The very presence of this important building led to the stretch of quay between Oude Hoogstraat and Rusland being called Oost-Indische Kaai. A bridge has existed at this spot for centuries. Balthasar Florisz. van Berckenrode’s 1625 map shows a drawbridge here. The modern history of the Oost-Indische Huisbrug begins in 1904. Amsterdam commissioned the “renewal of fixed bridge no. 223 over the Kloverniersburgwal before Rusland, with associated works.” The resulting structure featured iron/steel beams gently curving over five piers. Wooden planks were laid across the beams, topped with balustrades. In 1970, the Oost-Indische Huisbrug underwent a complete transformation. Steel beams, concrete, and wooden pillars formed the new structure, retaining the characteristic wooden cross-beams. Since 1995, the Oost-Indische Huisbrug stands as a protected municipal monument. It serves as a quiet reminder of a rich past. The bridge whispers tales of bustling trade and global connections to every passerby.