Who would have thought that behind the bridge with the dullest serial number, «236», there is a whole history. It may seem that this is an ordinary crossing over the Amstel River, one of many in Amsterdam. But no - this bridge, besides its number, also has a name - it is called the Blue Bridge.
This nickname was inherited from the bridge that was built here at the beginning of the 17th century. And it was Blue simply because it was painted in one of the colors of the national flag of the Netherlands (of course, it is clear which one - blue).
The old bridge was wooden, and the new one was stone. It was built in 1883 based on a design by Bastiaan de Greef and Willem Springer. The duo of architects had a weakness for the Parisian style of buildings, and specifically for the bridges thrown across the Seine. That is how a little piece of France appeared in the capital of the Netherlands.
The bridge turned out very beautiful and stately: with three passages for small vessels, with lamp posts in the form of columns crowned with the crowns of the Austrian Empire, with supports in the form of stone ships' prows, and with other rich decorative elements.
Technically, the Blue Bridge is perfectly sound, reliable, and will stand for a long time yet, delighting us with its wonderful appearance. Transport uses it, including trams. Having crossed the historic bridge, you will get from Waterloo Square to Rembrandt Square. Or vice versa, depending on your route.
