Amstel

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The name Amstel and the older form Aemstel are derived from Amestelle, which is a compound of the words aam or ame meaning water and stelle meaning solid, high, and dry ground."[http://gtb.inl.nl/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=WNT&id=M003834 Amstel]" (in Dutch), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 1889/2007. Retrieved on 29 October 2020.G. van Berkel & K. Samplonius, "[http://etymologiebank.ivdnt.org/trefwoord/amsterdam Amsterdam (Amsterdam, NH)]" (in Dutch), Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018. Retrieved on 10 October 2020."[https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_taa014194201_01/_taa014194201_01_0057.php Nederlandsche plaatsnamen]" (in Dutch), Onze Taal, 1942. Retrieved on 29 October 2020. In the 12th century, Amestelle was used for the area or gouw that was closed in by the rivers Amstel and Bullewijk and the bay IJ. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, the area was developed and ruled by the Van Amstel family."[https://www.amsterdam.nl/toerisme-vrije-tijd/over-amsterdam/geschiedenis/ De geschiedenis van Amsterdam]" (in Dutch), Municipality of Amsterdam. Retrieved on 29 October 2020."[https://web.archive.org/web/20030708013315/http://www.bma.amsterdam.nl/adam/nl/intro/gesch1a.html 1200-1585: de voorgeschiedenis. De Heren van Aemstel]" (in Dutch), Municipality of Amsterdam. Retrieved on 29 October 2020. The river Amstel was named after this land area.

Between 1525 and 1990, the water board or hoogheemraadschap of the area through which the river flows was Amstelland (Amstel Land),"[https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/5D277CC13CE04829A0A6B1796D659597 Stamboom met schematische voorstelling van opgeheven vroeger zelfstandige besturen van rechtsvoorgangers in het werkgebied van hoogheemraadschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht]" (in Dutch), Historisch archief van Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht, 2007. Retrieved on 29 October 2020. a name still in use for the region. The names of the settlements Amstelhoek (Amstel Bend),G. van Berkel & K. Samplonius, "[http://etymologiebank.ivdnt.org/trefwoord/amstelhoek Amstelhoek (De Ronde Venen, U)]" (in Dutch), Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018. Retrieved on 23 October 2020. Amsterdam (Amstel Dam), Nes aan de Amstel (Headland upon Amstel),G. van Berkel & K. Samplonius, "[http://etymologiebank.ivdnt.org/trefwoord/nesaandeamstel Nes aan de Amstel (Amstelveen, NH)]" (in Dutch), Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018. Retrieved on 23 October 2020. and Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Old Church upon Amstel)G. van Berkel & K. Samplonius, "[http://etymologiebank.ivdnt.org/trefwoord/ouderkerkaandeamstel Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Amstelveen, NH)]" (in Dutch), Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard, 2018. Retrieved on 23 October 2020. on the banks of the Amstel were derived from the river's name.

File:Kaart van het noordelijke stroomgebied van de Amstel.jpg

The Amstel was formed around 1050 BC when a freshwater river cut into a tidal channel of the IJ which are now Damrak and Rokin.Jerzy Gawronski & Peter Kranendonk, "[https://belowthesurface.amsterdam/en/pagina/de-opgravingen-3 The River Amstel]", Municipality of Amsterdam. Retrieved on 1 November 2020.

{{Routemap

|title = Amstel route map

|title color = white

|title bg = #0099ff

|navbar = Amstel routemap

|collapse = yes

|legend = canal

|map =

uKHSTaq\uFABZq+lr\uKHSTeq\~~Aarkanaal / Drecht

uSKRZ-Au\~~Vrouwenakkersebrug (N231)

uKHSTaq\uABZg+r\\~~Kromme Mijdrecht

uSKRZ-Au\~~Prinses Irenebrug (N196)

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Busbrug

uSKRZ-Au\~~N201

uKHSTaq\uABZg+r\\~~Oude Waver

uISLAND\~~Amsteleiland

uSKRZ-Bu\~~A9

uKHSTaq\uABZg+r\\~~Bullewijk

uSKRZ-Au\~~N522

uSKRZ-Bu\~~Rozenoordbrug (A10)

umKRZu\~~Rozenoordbrug (Weesp–Leiden railway)

uSKRZ-Bu\~~Rozenoordbrug (A10)

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Utrechtsebrug (S110)

uKHSTaq\uABZg+r\\~~Duivendrechtsevaart

uKHSTaq\uABZg+r\\~~Weespertrekvaart

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Berlagebrug

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Nieuwe Amstelbrug

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Torontobrug (S100)

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Hogesluis

uLock3\~~Amstelschutsluis

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Magere Brug

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Blauwbrug

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Halvemaansbrug

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Doelensluis

uENDEe\~~Rokin

RYq\~~Dam

RYq\~~Beursplein

uENDEa\~~Damrak

uSKRZ-Yu\~~Nieuwe Brug

ubSHI2lr\~~

uSTR\uSKRZ-Yu\~~Sint Nicolaasbrug

uSKRZ-Yu\uSTR\~~Kamperbrug

uSTR\uSKRZ-Yu\~~Bridge 13

uSTR\uSKRZ-Eu\~~Bridge 387

umKRZu\umKRZu\~~Amsterdam Centraal station

uSKRZ-Yu\uSKRZ-Yu\~~S100

uCONTgq\uFABZqlr\uFABZqlr\uCONTfq\~~IJ

}}

The Amstel begins where the canal Aarkanaal and the river Drecht meet, just north of the village Nieuwveen in the province of South Holland. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of South Holland and North Holland and flows in northeastern direction.

File:Amstel near Nes.jpg, between Uithoorn and Amstelveen]]

The Amstel passes the hamlet Vrouwenakker and is then joined by the tributary river Kromme Mijdrecht. On the northern bank is the town Uithoorn and on the southern bank is the village Amstelhoek. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of Utrecht and North Holland.

Further on, the river is joined by the tributary river Oude Waver. From here onwards, the river flows northward through the province of North Holland. The Amstel passes the village Nes aan de Amstel.

On the western bank is the town Amstelveen, where there is a small island in the river named Amsteleiland, and on the eastern bank the town of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, where the river is joined by the tributary river Bullewijk. After this the Amstel flows into the city of Amsterdam.

File:Amsterdam, Netherlands (Unsplash h1YWVMbS0PI).jpg in Amsterdam]]

In Amsterdam, the canals Duivendrechtsevaart and Weespertrekvaart are tributaries to the Amstel. There are several historical bridges crossing the river, among which are the Berlagebrug, Magere Brug, and Blauwbrug.

In the city center, the river is connected to several city canals, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Amstel Hotel, Royal Theater Carré, H'ART Museum, city hall in the Stopera, and Allard Pierson Museum are located on the eastern bank of the river.

The river continues via the Rokin to the Langebrugsteeg before being routed underground through pipes, passing under the filled in part of the Rokin and Dam Square before remerging into the Damrak at the Oudebrugsteeg. The river then passes beneath the Prins Hendrikkade before empyting into the {{ill|Open Havenfront|nl}}.

The original course continues with Damrak, after which it passes Stationseiland, an artificial island with Amsterdam Centraal station, and flows into the former bay IJ.

A nationally televised concert is held on the river every year on Liberation Day. The rowing races Head of the River Amstel and Heineken Roeivierkamp are held on the river annually. The river also forms part of the route of the Canal Parade, Amsterdam's annual floating gay pride parade.

File:Rembrandt van Rijn, View over the Amstel from the Rampart, c. 1646-1650, NGA 43060.jpg]]

The river has been depicted by many artists, including:

• Aert van der Neer (1603–1677)
• Rembrandt (1609–1669)
• Willem Witsen (1860–1923)
• George Hendrik Breitner (1857–1923)
• Piet Mondrian (1872–1944)

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Commons category-inline|Amstel}}

{{Canals of Amsterdam}}

{{Amsterdam}}

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Category:Geography of Amsterdam

Category:Rivers of North Holland

Category:Rivers of South Holland

Category:Rivers of Utrecht (province)

Category:Rivers of the Netherlands