Were you aware that these aren’t the original lions? These Leeuwen van het Centraal Station are copies. They stand guard near Amsterdam Centraal Station. But their story began long before these replicas found their place here.
The story of the Leeuwen van het Centraal Station starts in the late 19th century. Amsterdam was undergoing a significant transformation. The city needed a central station to connect its railway lines. This led to a controversial decision. The government chose to build the station in the IJ. This was a decision that cut off the city from its harbor.
To create the Centraal Station, three artificial islands were constructed. The station opened in 1889. But even before the station was complete, the railway viaducts were adorned with 22 grand sandstone lions.
These weren’t just decorative pieces. The Leeuwen van het Centraal Station were symbols. They represented the gateway to the city. They also guarded the passage for ships. Architect Dolf van Gendt designed the viaducts. He also designed the Centraal Station together with Pierre Cuypers. The life-size Leeuwen van het Centraal Station stood proudly on top of the wing buildings. Lions bearing Amsterdam’s city arms watched over the waterways. Lions with the Dutch coat of arms protected the railway lines.
But as train traffic increased, expansions were needed. The viaducts had to be widened. The Leeuwen van het Centraal Station could not stay in their original positions. The first lions disappeared in 1904. This happened when the Westertoegang was torn down due to severe subsidence. The remaining lions were removed by 1969. This was done because of the modernization of the railway.
The “Genootschap Leeuwen van het CS” began searching for the missing Leeuwen van het Centraal Station. They have located 15 of the 22 original statues. You can find four in Amsterdam’s Beatrixpark. Others reside in gardens. Some are in museums. Two even stand in Elburg at the Goorpoort. It is quite something when you think about the fact that some have been standing at their current location longer than they were at the Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Sadly, seven Leeuwen van het Centraal Station remain missing. The society wonders if the Leeuwen van het Centraal Station can ever return to their original home. Sadly all original locations have been demolished. However, there is one possible exception. The southwest corner of the Oostertoegang still has an original wing building. Perhaps, one day, the Leeuwen van het Centraal Station will guard this entrance again. These replicas remind us of the grand vision and the changing face of Amsterdam. They also represent the city’s enduring connection to both land and water.