Amsterdam - Singel
The Singel was originally a moat, and the city wall ran where the odd-numbered houses now stand. On the other side of the wall lay Amsterdam's vegetable gardens and meadows (the Torensluis is one of the former passages to the gardens). When the city was enlarged and the wall lost its defensive function, it was demolished (c. 1600) and houses were built on the site.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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A walk along this canal is interesting because of the quaint details that emerge: No. 7 is no wider than a front door and is thus the narrowest house in Amsterdam. The bridge at the corner of the Oude Leliestraat has a cell just above water-level where men and women must have been put (separately) to sober up. Of particular architectural interest are Nos. 140-142, designed by the famous architect Hendrik de Keyser. Banning Cocq, the principal figure in Rembrandt's "Night Watch", lived here for a while.
Related Attractions
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Frederik van Eeden Museum
The museum centers on the Dutch writer and social reformer Frederik van Eeden (1860-1932) who in 1898 founded a short-lived community on the lines of his romantic social philosophy.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | ||
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Press Museum
The Press Museum in Amsterdam has a collection of newspapers, magazines, posters, pamphlets and cartoons dating back to the early 17th C. Temporary exhibitions.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Dutch National Day (April 30)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Dutch National Day (April 30)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Schriftmuseum J.A.Dortmond
Schriftmuseum J.A.Dortmond, named after the collector J. A. Dortmond, illustrates the development of the art of writing from about 3000 B.C. to the present day. The handwriting department contains documentation on the art of writing.
The museum is located at the University of Amsterdam.
The museum is located at the University of Amsterdam.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | ||
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
University Library
To the west of the Munttoren, in the Singel, is the University Library, one of the largest libraries in the Netherlands (over 2 million volumes), distributed among a number of institutes.
