Gedempte Gracht Street, Zaandam
The Gedempte Gracht is a unique street and canal in Zaandam, known for its charming shopping street and bridges that span its length on both sides. This area has been designated as a pedestrian zone, allowing for unhurried strolls and leisurely shopping experiences. While the name "Gedempte Gracht" might suggest otherwise, it does indeed include a canal.
One side of the Gedempte Gracht features a stone embankment, while the other boasts a grassy one. Several of the bridges are adorned with long benches, providing a perfect spot for resting and taking in the surroundings. Along the stone embankment, there are steps leading down to the water, offering a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the canal. The area also features a music dome and wooden kiosks designed in the charming Zaanse style.
Across from the Gedempte Gracht, near the Hermitage, you'll find the Path茅 Zaandam cinema. The street continues as it leads to Zaandam station, effectively connecting the canal area with transportation and entertainment hubs.
The Gedempte Gracht came into existence in 1858 when the wide ditch between the two paths on either side was filled in. Over time, the Gedempte Gracht evolved into an important shopping street in Zaandam and served as a vital thoroughfare for traffic.
In the late 1990s, the Gedempte Gracht underwent a transformation, becoming a pedestrian area, and automobile and bus traffic was redirected to the adjacent Vinkenstraat. During this time, shopping pavilions were added to the middle of the street.
In 2011, the pavilions were removed, and the canal was dug open again. It now boasts an average width of 6.5 meters and is equipped with seven bridges, as well as a waterfall on the side near the station. This metamorphosis was a significant part of the Inverdan project, a redevelopment initiative in the area. Interestingly, the municipality decided to retain the name "Gedempte" for the canal, serving as a reminder of its history and transformation.
One side of the Gedempte Gracht features a stone embankment, while the other boasts a grassy one. Several of the bridges are adorned with long benches, providing a perfect spot for resting and taking in the surroundings. Along the stone embankment, there are steps leading down to the water, offering a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the canal. The area also features a music dome and wooden kiosks designed in the charming Zaanse style.
Across from the Gedempte Gracht, near the Hermitage, you'll find the Path茅 Zaandam cinema. The street continues as it leads to Zaandam station, effectively connecting the canal area with transportation and entertainment hubs.
The Gedempte Gracht came into existence in 1858 when the wide ditch between the two paths on either side was filled in. Over time, the Gedempte Gracht evolved into an important shopping street in Zaandam and served as a vital thoroughfare for traffic.
In the late 1990s, the Gedempte Gracht underwent a transformation, becoming a pedestrian area, and automobile and bus traffic was redirected to the adjacent Vinkenstraat. During this time, shopping pavilions were added to the middle of the street.
In 2011, the pavilions were removed, and the canal was dug open again. It now boasts an average width of 6.5 meters and is equipped with seven bridges, as well as a waterfall on the side near the station. This metamorphosis was a significant part of the Inverdan project, a redevelopment initiative in the area. Interestingly, the municipality decided to retain the name "Gedempte" for the canal, serving as a reminder of its history and transformation.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zaandam. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Gedempte Gracht Street on Map
Sight Name: Gedempte Gracht Street
Sight Location: Zaandam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Zaandam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Zaandam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Zaandam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Zaandam, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Zaandam
Creating your own self-guided walk in Zaandam is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Windmills Village Walk
Windmills Village, or Zaanse Schans, as it's known locally, is a truly unique place in the Netherlands. In this quaint location, packed to the brim with postcard-perfect wooden houses, windmills, and barns, one can easily experience what life was like in the country back in the 1850s.
Among the village's top highlights is the Museum of the Dutch Clock. Home to a stunning collection of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Among the village's top highlights is the Museum of the Dutch Clock. Home to a stunning collection of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Zaandam Introduction Walking Tour
Although historically significant as such, Zaandam, a charming old town on the banks of the Zaan River in the northwestern part of the Netherlands, does not have the same level of worldwide recognition as some larger cities. Despite its close proximity to Amsterdam, Zaandam has a plethora of tourist attractions of its own, readily available for those who seek them.
The name "Zaandam"... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
The name "Zaandam"... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles