Kinkerbrug

Gazing across the Kostverlorenvaart, we find the Kinkerbrug. It’s more than just a bridge. It’s a tangible piece of Amsterdam’s history, connecting the bustling Kinkerstraat to the Postjesweg and Witte de Withstraat. The Kinkerbrug wasn’t always the sturdy bascule bridge we see today. Before 1913, crossing the Kostverlorenvaart at this point was impossible. Residents had to detour either north to the Wiegbrug or south to the Overtoomse Sluis. The area west of the Kostverlorenvaart began to grow. New housing sprang up for commuters. This growth made a bridge essential. So, in 1913, the first Kinkerbrug, a simpler swing bridge, was constructed. It served as the link between Amsterdam and the then-separate municipality of Sloten. When Amsterdam annexed Sloten in 1921, the bridge quickly became inadequate. It was too narrow for the increasing traffic. It also caused delays for boats navigating the Kostverlorenvaart. By 1924, tram lines 7 and 17 were forced to cross the bridge on a single track. The situation clearly needed a fix. The solution arrived in 1936. The old swing bridge was replaced with the current bascule bridge, designed by Piet Kramer of Amsterdam’s Public Works Department. Kramer chose a clean, functional design for the Kinkerbrug. He used a simple but effective combination of brick and granite. Next to the bridge, he added a charming bridge house in the Amsterdam School style. This architectural style is also reflected in the bridge’s railings. Those heavy iron railings, with their intricate metalwork, echo those of the Mirakelbrug and Willemsbrug. During construction, a temporary bridge for pedestrians and cyclists was erected just north of the Kinkerbrug. Tram lines 7 and 17 were temporarily shortened, terminating at the Borgerstraat loop. A temporary tram line 15 connected the now-isolated sections of the route. It ran from Postjesweg to Witte de Withstraat over temporary tracks. Kramer’s signature granite year stones, marked “Anno 1937,” are also present on the Kinkerbrug. The new bridge was finally wide enough to accommodate double tram tracks. Heavy, hand-operated iron doors originally controlled traffic flow across the bridge. These were later replaced by more modern barriers around 1970. The Kinkerbrug underwent a renovation in the summer of 2003. The original design was carefully preserved. A nameplate was added to the railings. In 2017, the Kinkerbrug was updated for remote operation, rendering the charming bridge house unnecessary. Like several other former bridge houses in Amsterdam, this one found a new life as a unique hotel room. From the Kinkerbrug, you can spot three notable Amsterdam landmarks: Het Sieraad, the Westermoskee, and, on clear days, the Pontsteiger building. So next time you cross the Kinkerbrug, remember its journey. From a simple swing bridge to a modern marvel, it has witnessed the growth and change of Amsterdam.