Amsterdam City Tour: History in the canals

In search of an identity

Built between 1881 and 1889, the Amsterdam Central Station is the heart of the city. It is a building that was designed to give the city and its people a sense of identity. The government commissioned Petrus Cuypers (1827-1921), the architect of the Rijkmuseum, for its construction. Richly decorated on its facade and in the interior by the Austrian-Dutch painter and draftsman George Sturm (1855-1923), the Central Station features neo-gothic and renaissance architectural elements, as well as typical Dutch features, like the bell and neck gables, which were incorporated as a reminder of the country’s past and heritage. Among its most beautiful parts is the Royal Pavilion with the exquisite ornamental gate; It is located in the eastern wing of the station and was destined to house the queen’s carriage. Today the station connects Amsterdam to the rest of the continent and stands out as one of the most recognizable structures in the city and one of the most attractive station buildings across Europe.