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Leprozengracht

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Coordinates: 52°22′02″N 4°54′08″E / 52.367340°N 4.902323°E / 52.367340; 4.902323
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Leprozengracht
Leprozengracht looking northeast to the Mozes en Aäronkerk on the Houtgracht
Leprozengracht is located in Amsterdam
Leprozengracht
LocationAmsterdam
Coordinates52°22′02″N 4°54′08″E / 52.367340°N 4.902323°E / 52.367340; 4.902323
Southeast endAmstel
ToHoutgracht
Construction
Inauguration1593
Demolished1882
Balthasar Florisz. van Berckenrode - Amsterdam (1625). North at bottom. Vlooyenburg is the rectangular island just above the center. Leprozengracht to the left (E), Houtgracht below (N), Verwerfsgracht to the right (W).

The Leprozengracht was a canal in Amsterdam that defined one side of the Vlooienburg island. Leprozengracht and the connected Houtgracht canal were filled in 1882 to form the Waterlooplein.

History

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The Sint Anthoniusgasthuis, or Sint Nicolaasgasthuis, a leper house, was established on the land between Sint Anthoniesdijk and Amstel in the 14th century.[1] In the late 16th century it was decided to expand the old city of Amsterdam by creating a new island in this area. The new island was called Vlooienburg, a reference to the regular flooding of the area from the Amstel, and was surrounded by the Amstel, Leprozengracht, Houtgracht and Verwerfsgracht (Zwanenburgwal).[2] With the expansion, the leper house came to be within the city, and gave its name to the canal.[1] The canal was also known as the Leprozen Graft, Leprozenburgwal and Turfgracht.[3] It was crossed by the Muiderbrug along the Amstel bank.[4]

Vlooienburg was raised up during the second expansion of Amsterdam between 1592 and 1596 as a place to store wood, and blocks of houses were soon added. From the start, three Portuguese Jewish congregations built their synagogues on the island. The congregations united in 1639.[5] In the 1870s the houses along the canal were occupied by, among others, a furniture maker, teacher of religion, insurance broker, kosher cafe-restaurant, corn cutter and tailor.[6] Between 1837 and 1841 a church was built opposite the end of the canal dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, designed by Tilman-François Suys. The church became known as the Mozes en Aäron-kerk.[7]

The city council decided to fill in the Leprozengracht and Houtgracht on 28 January 1874. Both canals were filled in 1882.[8] The park that replaced the canals was officially named Waterlooplein in December 1883. It was made into a Jewish market.[2] The street traders from around Jodenbreestraat had to move to the new square. They were opposed to the move, thinking the square was too windy and no customers would come.[6] The former island is now the home of the Amsterdam "Stopera" building complex.[5]

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  • The Naarderveer on the Amstel on the corner with the Leprozengracht. On the right a small part of the Blauwbrug. c. 1659
    The Naarderveer on the Amstel on the corner with the Leprozengracht. On the right a small part of the Blauwbrug. c. 1659
  • The Oudezijds Huiszittenhuis on the Leprozengracht with the Arsenaal on the right. Seen along the Houtgracht to the Leprozengracht, with the Portuguese-Israelite Synagogue in the distance. c. 1710
    The Oudezijds Huiszittenhuis on the Leprozengracht with the Arsenaal on the right. Seen along the Houtgracht to the Leprozengracht, with the Portuguese-Israelite Synagogue in the distance. c. 1710
  • Leprozengracht looking southwest towards Zwanenburgerstraat Gerrit Lamberts 1830
    Leprozengracht looking southwest towards Zwanenburgerstraat Gerrit Lamberts 1830
  • Houtgracht looking southeast to Mozes en Aäronkerk and Leprozengracht
    Houtgracht looking southeast to Mozes en Aäronkerk and Leprozengracht

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Theo Bakker, p. 3.
  2. ^ a b 400 jaar Amsterdamse grachten.
  3. ^ Muiderbrug in de Binnen Amstel.
  4. ^ a b Amsterdam, Vlooienburg quarter.
  5. ^ a b Leprozengracht, Joodsamsterdam.
  6. ^ Theo Bakker, pp. 9–10.
  7. ^ J. Kruizinga Gerrit Vermeer 2002.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leprozengracht.

Sources

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  • "400 jaar Amsterdamse grachten: De Houtgracht en Leprozengracht", De Echo, 20 February 2013, retrieved 2019-07-28
  • "Amsterdam, Vlooienburg quarter", Spinozaweb, retrieved 2019-07-28
  • J. Kruizinga Gerrit Vermeer (2002), "Leprozengracht", XYZ van Amsterdam, retrieved 2019-07-28
  • "Leprozengracht", Adamlink, retrieved 2019-07-28
  • "Leprozengracht", Joodsamsterdam (in Dutch), 17 December 2016, retrieved 2019-07-28
  • "Muiderbrug in de Binnen Amstel over de Leprozengracht", Alle Amsterdamse bruggen, retrieved 2019-07-28
  • Theo Bakker, Vlooienburg & Zwanenburg (PDF), retrieved 2019-07-28
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