Blauwbrug

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Blauwbrug, meaning Blue Bridge, is a historic stone bridge in Amsterdam over the Amstel river. It connects the Rembrandtplein area with Waterlooplein, just south of the Stopera.

The name comes from a wooden blue bridge that stood nearby around 1600 and was painted in the blue of the Dutch flag. In 1883 this old bridge was replaced by the current stone bridge, which was inspired by Parisian bridges like Pont Alexandre III.

The bridge has three openings for ships and is richly decorated. The bases look like ships’ bows, and the columns feature leaf motifs, masks, and the Imperial Crown of Austria, a symbol also found in Amsterdam’s coat of arms. The lantern poles have shipping decorations, and the lanterns themselves are crown-shaped. The road on the bridge also carries tram tracks.

The bridge is mentioned in the 1983 novel De Slag om de Blauwbrug by A. F. Th. van der Heijden.