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370 Route 43. AMSTERDAM. Harbour.
a. The Harbour and the Inner Town.
The Harbour of Amsterdam has been reconstructed since 4é
at the expense of the city and the state, in connection with the con-
struction of the North Sea Canal (p. 406), in order to regain the
commercial supremacy that had temporarily passed to Rotterdam.
‘he entire area has been reclaimed f e Y, in which several
artificial islands have been formed, while the fairway has been
deepened. In the centre, on one of these islands, lies the Central
Railway Station (Pl. D, 2), a large building in the Dutch Renais-
sance style, designed by P. 7. H. Cuypers and opened in 488
De Ruyter-Kade (Pl. C, D, BE, 2), or quay behind (to the N. of °)
the station is the starting-place for most of the steamers to other
Dutch ports. The large American liners and the boats for London
and Hull (p. 293) are berthed at the Westerdoks- Dyk (Pl. B, ©, 4)
and the Handels-Kade (Pl, F, G, 1), a long quay stretching towards
the E. The Wester Dok (Pl. B, 0,1) and the Ooster Dok (P1. E, 2)
are devoted to the loading and dischargit of canal-barges. Adjoining
the latter are the Naval Harbour (’s Ryks Marine Dok; Pl. F, 2), the
Dyks-Gracht (Pl. F, G, 1), the Niewwe Vaart (Pl. G, 2), and other
docks. Still farther to the E. are the Free Harbour, with the
Entrepot Dok (168,000 sq. yds. of warehouse-space), the Railway
Harbour (Spoorweg Bassin), with aoe for coal, minerals, and other
raw produce, and the mouth of the Merwede Canal (p. 368). To the
W. of the Wester Dok are the Timber Dock (Houthaven; Pl. A, 1)
and, 4 M. farther on, the Petroleum Dock. The total harbour space
available for seagoing craft is about 530 acres. — On the N. side
of the Y (harbour-steamer No. 4, p. 366) is the Koninginne Dok
(Pl. E, 4), with the floating docks of the Amsterdamsche Droog- Dok
Maatschappy.
The Stations-Plein, in front of the station, is the starting-point
of several tramways (p. 365). A broad bridge leads to the Prins
Henprix Kans (P1. D, 2), originally called the Buitenkant. In the
Se on the right is a bust of Prince Henry of the Netherlands
(d.1879). On the E. rises the Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas
(Pl. D, 2), built in 1885-86 by A. O. Bleys, with two towers and a
dome over the crossing. — Close by are some old gabled houses and
magazines, and the low Schreyerstoren(P1. E, 2), built in 1482, which
derives its name (‘criers’ tower’) from the tears shed by persons
parting from their relatives and friends. — The Warmoes-Straat
(p. 374) and the Zeedyk, running to the S. and S.E. respectively from
the square in front of the church of St. Nicholas, are apt, in the
evening, to be the scene of somewhat rowdy manifestations of
popular amusement.
To the E., at Prins Hendrik-Kade 131, is Admiral de Ruyter’s House,
with his portrait in relief (comp. p. 295), and farther on, beyond the
mouth of the Oude Schans, in which, on the right, stands the old ona
baans Tower (Pl. E, 2), is the K WEEKSCHOOL VOOR DE ZeEVaantT (Pl. 8; F,
or School of Navigation, erected in 1880 by W. and J. LZ. Springer, acd Boi |
