Skinny Bridge Famous Bridge in Amsterdam
Skinny Bridge is one of the 1,200 bridges that span the canals that crisscross Amsterdam. Some are simply a means to cross the water, others are picturesque or true feats of engineering. Many are illuminated at night and offer a romantic backdrop. Magere Brug or Skinny Bridge is probably the most famous and certainly the most photographed bridge in Amsterdam. All Amsterdam bridges are numbered; Skinny Bridge is number 242. The bridge is also beloved by film producers. You can see it in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. But how did this Amsterdam landmark get such a unique name?
A Bridge in the Golden Age
The Golden Age was Amsterdam’s heyday. Trade made Amsterdam into one of the wealthiest cities in the world. In 1663, the city council decided to expand the city across the Amstel River. A bridge was to connect Kerkstraat with this new neighbourhood.
Delays at First Attempt
The expansion was postponed due to war and economic crisis. The opposite river bank remained undeveloped for a long time, and the construction of the bridge was postponed. Only when development finally began at the end of the 17th century did the city council make the decision. In 1691, the first bridge opened: the Kerkstraat Bridge.
From Kerkstraat Bridge to the Magere Brug
Why not stone?
A stone bridge was in the planning but that proved financially impossible. Instead, a wooden bridge was built, a cheaper option. It soon got the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge). The reason? The bridge was so narrow that pedestrians could hardly pass each other. It did not take long before the nickname became the official name.
Legends Surrounding the Name
Although the explanation is quite simple, colourful stories have emerged over the centuries that are still enjoyed by tourists:
• The Mager sisters: Two ladies from the Mager family supposedly lived on opposite sides of the Amstel River. The bridge allowed them to visit each other often.
• For the horses: Another version says that the sisters had the bridge built so they could easily reach their horses.
• Too stingy: The word ‘mager’ can also mean ‘stingy’ in Dutch. According to this legend, the family was simply too stingy to widen the bridge.
• Narrow arches: The original bridge had twelve arches, so narrow that explained the name. Even after the number of arches was reduced, the name remained.
Fewer Arches, Wider Bridge
The first Magere Brug was used until 1871. Ir was replaced by a new wooden bridge with nine arches. In 1934, the bridge soon had to be replaced again because of wood rot.
The Modern Skinny Bridge
The current bridge has eight arches and is much wider than its predecessors. Until 2003, cars drove across it. Today, the bridge is bicycle and pedestrian only. It is a typically Dutch backdrop for boats sailing beneath the white arches.
Romance on the Amstel River
During the day, the Magere Brug is a photogenic landmark, but at night it is even better when thousands of lights illuminate the bridge. It turns into one of the most romantic spots in the city.
The best time to take photos of the Skinny Bridge
Skinny Bridge is beautiful at any time of day, but for photos, there are a few moments that really stand out:
• Early morning: The soft light casts a golden glow over the Amstel River. It’s also still quiet then, allowing you to capture the bridge almost entirely empty.
• Just after sunset: This is perhaps the most beautiful moment. The sky darken, lights come on, and reflect beautifully in the water.
• Evening/night: The bridge is bathed in lights and looks like fairytale.
• In autumn or spring: Autumn colours and blossoming trees along the Amstel River add to admosphere to your photos.
Tip from the Amsterdam-Now editor: Stand a little further along the Amstel River, on the quay north of the bridge. This way you get the entire bridge in view including the reflections in the water.
Decide for yourself which story about the bridge’s naming you believe. But one thing is certain: the Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) is the symbol of Amsterdam.
