Dijksgracht

The Dijksgracht (Dike Canal) is a canal in the center of Amsterdam, on Oostenburg island, one of the three Oostelijke Eilanden (Eastern Islands). It is also the name of the adjacent street.

Dijksgracht

Middle section of the Dijksgracht street (2017)
Addresses	Oostelijke Eilanden
Location	Amsterdam
Postal code	1019 BS / BT
Coordinates	52.376111°N 4.917222°E / 52.376111; 4.917222
West end	Oosterdok
To	Oostenburg Island
Construction
Inauguration	1957 (1957)

Location

The west end of the Dijksgracht street starts from Oosterdokskade (street) on Oosterdokseiland. The Oosterdoksdraaibrug (bridge) takes it across the Oosterdoksdoorgang (channel) and the street runs east along the south of the dike to Kattenburgerstraat. The canal continues further east, under the Mariniersbrug (bridge) to the Wittenburgervaart, but there is not yet a public road along this part. Yet further east on Oostenburg island there is another segment of street called Dijksgracht, between the VOC quay and Conradstraat, but without addresses.[1]

History and location

The dike, after which the canal and street are named, was created at the end of the 19th century as protection for the Oostelijke Eilanden (Eastern Islands) against silting up from the IJ.[2] The railway line from Amsterdam Centraal station to Utrecht and Hilversum is located on the dike body itself . The Piet Heinkade dual carriageway is on the other side of the railway embankment .

There are several houseboats in the water . One of the most famous residents of Dijksgracht was singer Ramses Shaffy, who lived in one of these houseboats in the 1970s.[3] In 2008, in the context of his 75th birthday, a tree was named after him.[4]

The beginning of the Dijksgracht, the so-called Kop Dijksgracht, contains a number of facilities including an indoor climbing wall, a restaurant, the Mediamatic cultural institution and the 'Shaffy's Garden' neighborhood vegetable garden

Planned development

Due to its central location, many plans have been made to renew Dijksgracht. A temporary slow traffic bridge has been constructed from Dijksgracht to the Marineterrein, which was opened to the public in 2015.[5] The bridge was opened in January 2016 and was later named Commandants Bridge.[6] The span is part of a connection between Central Station and the Marineterrein.[7]

In 2007 there were plans to extend the Dijksgracht as a cycle and footpath east of the Mariniersbrug[8] but that was postponed. In 2015, the plan was discussed again, Dijksgracht-west would be given a make-up and Dijksgracht-east would be provided with a cycle path as far as Oostenburgereiland.[9] There was much opposition from the residents, mainly because of the disappearance of a lot of greenery.[10] After various consultation rounds, the green and informal character of the street was preserved.

The paving of the Dijksgracht was renewed in 2017, while a new sewer and gas pipeline for the houseboats were installed. To prevent subsidence of the road surface, drainage and a retaining wall were undertaken.[11] The cycle route from Dijksgracht-west will be extended in 2019 to the former Stork site on Oosterburgereiland.[12]

Afbeeldingen

• 
  The Mariniersbrug over the Dijksgracht
• 
  Oosterdoksdraaibrug, with the climbing hall on the left.
• 
  Shaffy tree
• 
  Temporary bridge that connects the Dijksgracht with the Marineterrein
• 
  Dijksgracht seen from the Commandantsbrug

See also

• Canals of Amsterdam

Notes

1. "Op de kaart". Amsterdam.nl. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
2. "Historie Oostenburg". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
3. Koen van Andel. "De straten van Shaffy". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
4. "Herdenking Ramses Shaffy bij woonboot Dijksgracht en in Carré Amsterdam". 2 December 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
5. "Inrichtingsvoorstel kop Dijksgracht tot 2018" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2015.
6. "Kom over de brug!". Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
7. "Een tijdelijke brug: Bouw tijdelijke brug gestart". Bureau Marineterrein Amsterdam. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
8. Stedenbouwkundig Plan Dijksgracht concept. Gemeente Amsterdam. 26 June 2007.
9. Gemeente Amsterdam, Stadsdeel Centrum. "Jaarplan 2015 Gebied Oost" (PDF). Retrieved 2 July 2015.
10. NU.nl (23 June 2015). "Bewoners Dijksgracht starten petitie tegen verwijderen groen". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
11. Amsterdam. "Dijksgracht: groot onderhoud in herinrichting". Amsterdam.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2017-09-02.
12. Amsterdam. "Dijksgracht: aanleg fietsverbinding tussen de Kattenburgerstraat en Oostenburg". Amsterdam.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-04-19.