Amstel River

The Amstel () is a river in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands. It flows from the Aarkanaal and Drecht in Nieuwveen northwards, passing Uithoorn, Amstelveen, and Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, to the IJ in Amsterdam. Annually, the river is the location of the Liberation Day concert, Head of the River Amstel rowing match, and the Amsterdam Gay Pride boat parade.

Etymology

The name ''Amstel'' and the older form ''Aemstel'' are derived from ''Amestelle'', which is a compound of the words '' aam'' or ''ame'' meaning water and '' stelle'' meaning solid, high, and dry ground.G. van Berkel & K. Samplonius,
Amsterdam (Amsterdam, NH)
(in Dutch), ''Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard'', 2018. Retrieved on 10 October 2020.Nederlandsche plaatsnamen
(in Dutch), ''Onze Taal'', 1942. Retrieved on 29 October 2020. In the 12th century, ''Amestelle'' was used for the area or '' gouw'' that was closed in by the rivers Amstel and Bullewijk and the bay IJ. Between the 12th and 14th century, the area was developed and ruled by the Van Amstel family. The river Amstel was named after this land area.

Between 1525 and 1990, the water board or ''hoogheemraadschap'' of the area through which the river flows was Amstelland (Amstel Land), a name still in use for the region. The names of the settlements Amstelhoek (Amstel Bend), Amsterdam (Amstel Dam), Nes aan de Amstel (Headland upon Amstel), and Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Old Church upon Amstel) on the banks of the Amstel were derived from the river's name.

History

The Amstel was formed around 1050 BC when a freshwater river cut into a tidal channel of the IJ which are now Damrak and Rokin.Jerzy Gawronski & Peter Kranendonk,
The River Amstel
, ''Municipality of Amsterdam''. Retrieved on 1 November 2020.

Course

Source

The Amstel begins where the canal Aarkanaal and the river Drecht meet, just north of the village Nieuwveen in the province of South Holland. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of South Holland and North Holland and flows in northeastern direction.

Amstelland

The Amstel passes the hamlet Vrouwenakker and is then joined by the tributary river Kromme Mijdrecht. On the northern bank is the town Uithoorn and on the southern bank is the village Amstelhoek. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of Utrecht and North Holland.

Further on, the river is joined by the tributary river Oude Waver. From here onwards, the river flows northward through the province of North Holland. The Amstel passes the village Nes aan de Amstel.

On the western bank is the town Amstelveen, where there is a small island in the river named Amsteleiland, and on the eastern bank the town of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, where the river is joined by the tributary river Bullewijk. After this the Amstel flows into the city of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, the canals Duivendrechtsevaart and Weespertrekvaart are tributaries to the Amstel. There are several historical bridges crossing the river, among which are the Berlagebrug, Magere Brug, and Blauwbrug.

In the city center, the river is connected to several city canals, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Amstel Hotel, Royal Theater Carré, Hermitage Amsterdam, city hall in the Stopera, and Allard Pierson Museum are located on the eastern bank of the river.

The river is interrupted at Rokin that is partly filled up, Dam Square, and Damrak that is partly filled up.

Mouth

The original course continues with Damrak, after which it passes Stationseiland, an artificial island with Amsterdam Centraal station, and flows into the former bay IJ.

Cultural events

A nationally televised concert is held on the river every year on Liberation Day. The rowing races Head of the River Amstel and Heineken Roeivierkamp are held on the river annually. The river also forms part of the route of the Canal Parade, Amsterdam's annual floating gay pride parade.

Artist impressions

The river has been depicted by many artists, including:
*Aert van der Neer (1603–1677)
*Rembrandt (1609–1669)
*Willem Witsen (1860–1923)
*George Hendrik Breitner (1857–1923)
*Piet Mondrian (1872–1944)

References

External links

*
{{Canals of Amsterdam

Geography of Amsterdam
Rivers of North Holland
Rivers of South Holland
Rivers of Utrecht (province)
Rivers of the Netherlands