Amstel

This article is about the Dutch river. For other uses, seeAmstel (disambiguation).

Amstel
The Amstel in city center of Amsterdam with theStopera(center) andH'ART Museum(right)
Location of the Amstel in dark blue
Location
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Holland,South Holland,Utrecht
Water board	Amstel, Gooi en Vecht
Municipalities	Nieuwkoop,Uithoorn,De Ronde Venen,Amstelveen,Ouder-Amstel,Amsterdam
Physical characteristics
Source	Aarkanaal/Drecht
• location	Nieuwveen,South Holland
• coordinates	52°12′24″N4°44′05″E
Mouth	IJ
• location	Amsterdam,North Holland
• coordinates	52°22′08″N4°53′33″E
Length	31 km (19 mi)

TheAmstel(Dutch:[ˈɑmstəl]) is a river in the province ofNorth Hollandin theNetherlands.It flows from the Aarkanaal and Drecht inNieuwveennorthwards, passingUithoorn,Amstelveen,andOuderkerk aan de Amstel,to theIJinAmsterdam,to which the river gives its name. Annually, the river is the location of theLiberation Dayconcert,Head of the River Amstelrowing match, and theAmsterdam Gay Prideboat parade.

Etymology

"Giselberto de Amestelle" (Gijsbrechtof Amstel) on a document from 1189

The nameAmsteland the older formAemstelare derived fromAmestelle,which is a compound of the wordsaamoramemeaning water andstellemeaning solid, high, and dry ground.In the 12th century,Amestellewas used for the area orgouwthat was closed in by the rivers Amstel andBullewijkand the bayIJ.Between the 12th and 14th centuries, the area was developed and ruled by theVan Amstel family.The river Amstel was named after this land area.

Between 1525 and 1990, thewater boardorhoogheemraadschapof the area through which the river flows wasAmstelland(Amstel Land),a name still in use for the region. The names of the settlementsAmstelhoek(Amstel Bend),Amsterdam(Amstel Dam),Nes aan de Amstel(Headland upon Amstel),andOuderkerk aan de Amstel(Old Church upon Amstel)on the banks of the Amstel were derived from the river's name.

History

Map of the river Amstel fromc. 1575

The Amstel was formed around 1050 BC when a freshwater river cut into a tidal channel of the IJ which are nowDamrakandRokin.

Course

Amstel route map
Aarkanaal/Drecht Vrouwenakkersebrug (N231) Kromme Mijdrecht Prinses Irenebrug (N196) Busbrug N201 Oude Waver Amsteleiland A9 Bullewijk N522 Rozenoordbrug (A10) Rozenoordbrug (Weesp–Leiden railway) Rozenoordbrug (A10) Utrechtsebrug (S110) Duivendrechtsevaart Weespertrekvaart Berlagebrug Nieuwe Amstelbrug Torontobrug (S100) Hogesluis Amstelschutsluis Magere Brug Blauwbrug Halvemaansbrug Doelensluis Rokin Dam Beursplein Damrak Nieuwe Brug Sint Nicolaasbrug Kamperbrug Bridge 13 Bridge 387 Amsterdam Centraal station S100 IJ

Sources

The Amstel begins where the canalAarkanaaland the riverDrechtmeet, just north of the villageNieuwveenin the province ofSouth Holland.Here the river forms the border between the provinces of South Holland andNorth Hollandand flows in northeastern direction.

Amstelland

Amstel nearNes aan de Amstel,betweenUithoornandAmstelveen

The Amstel passes the hamletVrouwenakkerand is then joined by the tributary riverKromme Mijdrecht.On the northern bank is the townUithoornand on the southern bank is the villageAmstelhoek.Here the river forms the border between the provinces ofUtrechtand North Holland.

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

On the western bank is the townAmstelveen,where there is a small island in the river named Amsteleiland, and on the eastern bank the town ofOuderkerk aan de Amstel,where the river is joined by the tributary riverBullewijk.After this the Amstel flows into the city ofAmsterdam.

Amsterdam

Amstel near theRembrandt Towerin Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, the canalsDuivendrechtsevaartandWeespertrekvaartare tributaries to the Amstel. There are several historical bridges crossing the river, among which are theBerlagebrug,Magere Brug,andBlauwbrug.

In the city center, the river is connected to severalcity canals,which are a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.TheAmstel Hotel,Royal Theater Carré,H'ART Museum,city hall in theStopera,andAllard Pierson Museumare located on the eastern bank of the river.

The river continues via theRokinto the Langebrugsteeg before being routed underground through pipes, passing under the filled in part of the Rokin andDam Squarebefore remerging into theDamrakat the Oudebrugsteeg. The river then passes beneath thePrins Hendrikkadebefore empyting into theOpen Havenfront.

Mouth

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

Cultural events

A nationally televised concert is held on the river every year onLiberation Day.TherowingracesHead of the River Amsteland Heineken Roeivierkamp are held on the river annually. The river also forms part of the route of theCanal Parade,Amsterdam's annual floating gaypride parade.

Artist impressions

17th-century drawing of the river Amstel byRembrandt

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)

External links

• Media related toAmstelat Wikimedia Commons