Etty Hillesumbrug

Gazing across the tranquil waters of the Noorder Amstelkanaal, we find the Etty Hillesumbrug. This bridge, connecting the Emmastraat and Willem Witsenstraat, holds a poignant story. The Etty Hillesumbrug wasn’t always known by this name. Originally built in 1961-1962, it replaced a wooden temporary bridge from 1921. This modern concrete structure was designed by Dick Slebos. It was constructed due to the anticipated traffic increase from the newly built Hilton Amsterdam Hotel. For a time, it held the unofficial name “Muziekbrug”, or “Music Bridge”. This was due to the musical names of nearby streets. However, the streets directly connected by the bridge, Emmastraat and Willem Witsenstraat, are named after a regent and an artist, not musicians. In 2016, Amsterdam residents voted to leave the bridge anonymous. However, the bridge finally received its official name, Etty Hillesumbrug, in 2022. It honors Etty Hillesum, a Dutch Jewish writer. Her diaries poignantly detail her spiritual journey. They also chronicle the persecution of Jewish people in Amsterdam during World War II. She often cycled across this very bridge to visit her beloved, a journey documented in her writings. The Etty Hillesumbrug stands not only as a pathway across the water, but also as a tribute to Etty Hillesum’s life and legacy. Her words resonate with a profound message of hope and resilience amidst unimaginable adversity. The next time you cross the Etty Hillesumbrug, remember Etty’s story. It’s a story of love, loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.