Centuries ago, Brug 37 wasn’t a bridge at all. It was a “peylsluis,” a type of lock. This lock controlled water flow in the Keizersgracht.
Brug 37 is located in Amsterdam-Centrum. It carries the Utrechtsestraat over the Keizersgracht. Tram line 4 has crossed it since 1948. The Lucas Jansz Sinckbrug and Brug 37 are the final two bridges before the Keizersgracht flows into the Amstel.
Back in 1679, Jacob Bosch’s map showed a lock here. City architect Daniël Stalpaert also drew these locks on his 1662 map. He noted their purpose. They held back water coming from the Amstel. The Amstelsluizen were built in 1673. This made the locks in the canals useless. Frederik de Wit’s 1688 map showed low bridges instead of locks. The bridge is surrounded by municipal and national monuments, but is not a monument itself.
The story of Brug 37 mirrors that of Brug 34. Both bridges are on the Utrechtsestraat. Brug 37 had to be widened. This allowed for a tram stop on the bridge. The bridge widening might have been part of a bigger plan. The Utrechtsestraat was planned to become a major road from the city center. This plan never happened.
In 2009, major renovations were planned for Brug 37. This was part of an upgrade to the Utrechtsestraat. The project included new tram rails. After problems with Brug 34’s renovation, Brug 37 was assessed. It was decided that Brug 37 was still in good shape. The renovation was cancelled.
Looking at Brug 37 from above, you can still see the shape of the old lock. The canal narrows east of the bridge. The lock keeper’s house once stood on the wider quays. Later, it became a flower stand. The bridge’s low height limits where houseboats can dock on the Keizersgracht. They can only be placed east of Brug 37.
Until 2016, Brug 37 was unofficially known as Peylsluis. This name came from the four peilsluizen in the Utrechtsestraat. The name Peylsluis is no longer used.