This quay, the Badhuiskade, owes its name to the swimming pool that was located here a hundred years ago. The swimming pool counted 88 metres, the largest in Europe at the time. Its predecessor on De Ruyterkade had had tomake way for expansion of the harbour in 1914. The new Obelt lido in Noord was somewhat less crowded. Back then, canal-bound Amsterdammers were not as likely to cross the IJ for sport and entertainment as they are now.

Bare arms and legs

Pool operator Theodorus Obelt was a modern entrepreneur. He dedicated himself to popularising swimming, specifically to the emancipation of women’s swimming. In 1886, he even organised a women’s swimming competition. Bare arms and legs? Outrageous. Theodorus ignored the prudish haters. In his pool, women and men kept equal rights.