The origin of Noord
In 1170, a hundred years before Amsterdam was born, a series of storm surges brought the IJ-canal into being. See how that body of water on the maps took over? One piece of land was spared, the Volewijk, the area you find yourself in right now.
The birth of the Amstel-river
The maps also show a tiny river, the Die of Waterland. Archaeologists think it started from around where Waterloosquare is now, a couple of kilometres north of a by now famous bog stream, the Amstel. The two rivers became one around 1200. A hundred years later, about a kilometre south of here, a dam was built across the river. The dam that started it all and to which Amsterdam own sits name.
Situation around 1100, Mapping History
Situation around 1170, Mapping History
Situation around 1200, Mapping History
Beeld bovenaan: Map of Amsterdam and environs, 1921, Stadsarchief Amsterdam
Gerelateerd
Oerknal aan het IJ
Book by Bas Kok
Oerknal aan het IJ sheds new light on Amsterdam-Noord. The centuries-long influence of the gallows field on the appearance of Noord, the rise and fall of the shipyards, the rising star of the cultural palaces EYE and A'dam Tower. Above all, Bas Kok stumbled upon a still unknown story of Noord. It change the history of the district - and that of the entire city of Amsterdam.
Buy the bookThe History of the Buiksloterham and Buiksloot
Website
Canon of Noord earliest history (until 1919)
To the websiteDijkreis
Podwalk from Pop-up City
Dijkreis is a podwalk that takes you on a discovery tour of the 11-kilometre-long Waterlandse Zeedijk. In forty extraordinary stories, you will learn about the history of Amsterdam North in the place where it actually took place.
To the websiteThe birth of the city. Looking for medieval Amsterdam
Exhibition
How did Amsterdam become the city we know today? The exhibition The Birth of the City - In Search of Medieval Amsterdam explores the city's fascinating earliest history. Discover how in a few centuries the small settlement on the Amstel and IJ rivers grew into a well-known place of pilgrimage and an influential port, and stand face to face with the oldest known Amsterdammer. From 7 March to 6 July 2025 in the Exhibition Hall of the Stadsarchief Amsterdam.
To the websiteThe stories
