Imagine a time when Amsterdam was the largest harbor in the world. That time is essential to understanding Kattenburg. This neighborhood is steeped in maritime history. For centuries, Kattenburg has been directly connected to shipping and shipbuilding.
Kattenburg is one of the Eastern Islands. These areas were surrounded by canals. They could only be reached from the city by bridges. In the 17th century, Amsterdam experienced massive economic growth. Trade and shipping increased greatly. This created a large demand for space for shipbuilding. The city decided to create a new industrial and residential area. It was built in a swampy area on the east side.
In the 1640s, a bulwark was built to defend the city. It was on the east side of the harbor. People thought the harbor was vulnerable to attack from that side. Completed in 1649, the bulwark was quickly named Kattenburg. It also served as a breakwater for the harbor.
Kattenburg’s role as a defensive work was short-lived. From 1655 to 1658, it became a site for shipyards. It also housed the Lands Zeemagazijn. This was a warehouse for the Admiralty. It later became the Scheepvaartmuseum or Maritime Museum.
The first spade for the Zeemagazijn was dug on September 12, 1655. The first stone was laid in March 1656. The building was likely fully completed in 1657. The Admiralty quickly bought the entire west side of Kattenburg. By 1668, the last private shipyard was vacated. The entire Admiralty shipyard was completed that same year. It included homes and forges. The Zeemagazijn stored equipment for the war fleet. This included rigging parts, tools and firearms. Gunpowder was not stored there. It was too dangerous for the city.
Smaller private shipyards sprung up on the east side of Kattenburg. Many shipyard workers lived in the residential area in the middle of the island. The residents were nicknamed “bijltjes”. This referred to an important tool in wooden ship construction. Its somewhat isolated location gave Kattenburg its own unique character. For centuries, a narrow drawbridge was the only connection. It ran from Kattenburgerplein to what is now Prins Hendrikkade. A unique dialect even developed. It was called Kattenburgs.
Most residents of old Kattenburg were pro-Orange. When the Patriots took over the city government in 1787, the Kattenburgers revolted. They raised the bridge to the city. They barricaded themselves in the square. Several people died in the ensuing fighting. The Patriots regained control of Kattenburg. They retaliated against the Orangists by looting their homes. This day went down in history as Bijltjesdag. The term is still used today. It refers to a reckoning after a period of oppression.
Not long after, Kattenburg faced another disaster. On July 6, 1791, the Zeemagazijn burned down completely. Only scorched stone walls remained. The cause was never discovered. Fortunately, a strong east wind prevented the fire from spreading. It did not reach the houses in the neighborhood. The navy immediately decided to rebuild the Zeemagazijn. It was completed two years later. The heavy floor beams you see in the museum today are from the late 18th century. They are not from the mid-17th century.
Kattenburg once resembled the Jordaan. It had 17th-century houses along narrow streets. Like the Jordaan, the houses in Kattenburg were in very poor condition. This was in the 1940s and 50s. The City of Amsterdam decided to demolish the entire neighborhood. They wanted to make way for a wide thoroughfare with new apartment buildings. The demolition was completed in 1968. Kattenburg lost its unique, historical character.