Magere Brug

The picturesque 'skinny bridge' over the Amstel is lit up at night with 1200 bulbs.

TravelCurious Tip

Rumour has it that a kiss on the bridge will ensure you stay together forever...

Skinny bridge

According to legend, the wooden bridge originally built here in 1691 was constructed so that two wealthy sisters, who lived on opposite sides of the Amstel, could visit each other with ease. It seems they weren’t quite wealthy enough to build a bridge wide enough for general use, hence its narrow profile - the drawbridge was a tight squeeze even for two pedestrians to pass one another.

Since that time the ‘skinny bridge’ has seen several versions: it was rebuilt slightly wider in 1871, and again fifty years later, and demolished yet again in 1934. The one we see today was last renovated in 1969.


Lights over the Amstel

Nowadays the white-painted wooden bascule bridge is opened many times a day to let river traffic pass through (most sightseeing boats are low enough to pass under without it being opened). Until 1994, when automatic operation was introduced, this was all done by hand.

It is an especially popular spot with tourists and photographers in the evening, when it is romantically illuminated by an array of bulbs, accentuating its elegant arched structure. There are 1,500 bridges in Amsterdam, and Magere Brug is certainly one of the highlights.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Amsterdam
Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market)
The city's most fragrant attraction is the only floating flower market on the planet.
Nieuwe Spiegelstraat
At the heart of the art district, this street is home to many of Amsterdam's premier galleries and antique dealers.
Portuguese Synagogue
Amsterdam's Sephardic community was one of Europe's largest during the Golden Age; this synagogue has been their religious centre here since the 17th century.
Waterlooplein
Surrounded by small souvenir shops and bars, this central square is popular for its hectic flea market.
Rembrandt House Museum
The Rembrandt House or Museum Het Rembrandthuis is the house where the famous painter Rembrandt lived for many years, near Waterlooplein in Amsterdam. The museum shows the life of the Dutch painter with his wife and children. The collection holds Rembrand's sketches and works from his tutor, Pieter Lastman.
Heineken Experience
Interactive tour through beer giant's history in former brewery, with a tasting room finale.

Related Tours

Explore Amsterdam Highlights: Private Half-Day Walking Tour
Explore the highlights of Amsterdam, the charming Dutch capital famous for its cobblestone streets, iconic canal network, hundreds of old stone bridges, kilometres of cycle paths, beautiful architecture, and vibrant culture on this half-day walking tour with an expert guide. Also included, are tickets for a scenic cruise along the city's famous canals to enjoy at your leisure after the tour. 

On your private tour, you will: 

  • Meet your expert guide in the Bohemian, hipster neighbourhood of Jordaan; 
  • Pass by Anne Frank’s house to hear about the history of the writer's house and her family’s tragic story;
  • See the famous Torensluis Bridge and Westerkerk;
  • Explore Dam Square, home to the iconic Koninklijk Palace, a royal residence;
  • See the smallest house in Amsterdam;
  • Explore the pretty Bloemenmarkt Flower Market that famously floats on the water; 
  • Learn the history of Dutch tulips;
  • Pass by the Waag, a 15th-century building on Nieuwmarkt square;
  • See some of the 513km of the city's cycle paths;
  • End your tour on a scenic one-hour boat trip on the UNESCO World Heritage canal ring of Amsterdam. 

Your tour begins in the beautiful Jordaan District, historically an impoverished neighbourhood, that later attracted artists and poets, including Rembrandt and the famous 17th-century Dutch writer Joost van den Vondel. Now, it is a bustling centre of creativity, full of young artists, entrepreneurs, and students taking their coffee in the myriad of artisanal cafes and restaurants. 

As a centre of Calvinist religious reform, you will also see Amsterdam's Westerkerk, which at its completion in 1631, was one of the first-ever Protestant churches. Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk and Nieuwe Kerk were originally built for Roman Catholic worship before the ‘Alteration,’ the bloodless Calvinist coup of 1578, that saw them converted.

See some of the city's hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths, admire the old stone bridges and especially the iconic Torensluis Bridge. Learn about the rise and fall of the Dutch East India Company and Amsterdam as the centre of the Dutch Golden Age.

From there, your guide will take you to Dam Square, which, along with the River Amstel lends its name to the city! It began life as a dam of the Amstel river nearly 750 years ago. As the city grew so did the dam, until it became large enough for a town square; the dam of Amstel became Amsterdam! 

Paved with the Dutch capital’s distinctive cobblestones, the square today is a great place to browse and people-watch among some of the city’s most notable attractions: Madame Tussaud’s, the 15th century Gothic Nieuwe Kerk, the Royal Palace and the swish department store De Bijenkorf are all here.

You’ll also have the chance to see the famous Bloemenmarkt, which has floated on Amsterdam’s innermost canal since 1862. Historically, barges used to sail up the Amstel from their smallholdings; today daily fresh flowers arrive by van, and fifteen florists and garden shops display their colourful wares in an array of covered stalls.

Your tour will finish with tickets to board a canal cruise, to see the city from the water, one of the most iconic things to do in Amsterdam!
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